Verlander (shoulder) confirmed Tuesday he expects to return from the 15-day injured list after making just one minor-league rehab start, Pat Ragazzo of SI.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

That rehab start is scheduled to take place Friday, when he's expected to cover around 3-to-4 innings in his first appearance since spring training, per Pat Ragazzo of SI.com. Assuming all goes well Friday, Verlander will then be on track to make his Mets debut next week in Detroit. The veteran right-hander has been on the shelf with a low-grade teres major strain, but he's checked all the necessary boxes so far in his recovery. Even at age 40 and coming off this recent shoulder scare, Verlander projects for ace-like production the rest of the way in 2023.