Justin Verlander
SP HOU
Fri 3/31/23 5:59 PM

Verlander (shoulder) did some light throwing Friday in Miami, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Verlander was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday after being diagnosed with a low-grade teres major strain, but he has the blessing from team doctors to continue throwing on the side so that he won't require an overly lengthy build-up once he's cleared again for mound work. The veteran ace is scheduled to undergo new imaging tests on his upper right arm late next week to gauge the healing process. There should be a clearer timetable for his Mets debut once those scans are reviewed. Tylor Megill is filling his rotation spot.

Justin Verlander
SP HOU
Thu 3/30/23 1:51 PM

Verlander was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a low-grade teres major strain, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Verlander had been lined up to start the Mets' third regular-season game Saturday in Miami, but now he's at risk of missing much of April. Per an announcement from the club, the veteran right-hander will "continue throwing at moderate intensity" before undergoing new scans of his upper right arm next week. He inked a two-year, $86.67 million contract with New York over the winter. Tylor Megill will fill his spot in the rotation for the time being.

Justin Verlander
SP HOU
Fri 3/24/23 4:18 PM

Verlander will start the third game of the Mets' season against Miami on April 1, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Starting in the Mets' third game puts Verlander in line to pitch in New York's home opener, which manager Buck Showalter said was the goal. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner has been looking like his usual self this spring with a 2.25 ERA and 0.88 WHIP through 16 innings.

Justin Verlander
SP HOU
Tue 3/21/23 1:36 PM

Verlander gave up two runs on two hits and six walks over 4.2 innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals. He struck out three.
EDGE Analysis
The 2022 AL Cy Young Award winner came into the game with zero walks in 11.1 spring innings, not to mention 16 strikeouts, so Verlander can probably get a mulligan on this one. The Mets aren't expecting him to repeat last season's incredible 1.75 ERA and 0.83 WHIP, but after handing him a two-year, $87 million contract in the offseason, the team is counting on him to pitch like an ace and hopefully win at least 15 games for the 13th time in his Hall of Fame career.

Justin Verlander
SP HOU
Thu 3/16/23 11:45 AM

Verlander gave up only one hit over five scoreless innings while striking out eight in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.
EDGE Analysis
The right-hander fired 51 of 71 pitches for strikes as he continues a dominant spring. Verlander has a dazzling 16:0 K:BB through 11.1 innings in Grapefruit League action, and the 2022 AL Cy Young Award winner appears more than ready for the beginning of the regular season. Mets manager Buck Showalter has yet to announce whether Verlander or Max Scherzer will get the Opening Day start, but there's no wrong answer between the two aces.

Justin Verlander
SP HOU
Wed 3/8/23 6:22 PM

Verlander will be on the mound Friday against the Astros in a Grapefruit League start, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Verlander's second spring start will come against his former team. The right-hander made his Grapefruit League debut with the Mets on Sunday, an went three innings while allowing a run on two hits against the Marlins. In 2022 while a member of the Astros, Verlander was the 2022 Cy Young winner with a 1.75 ERA and 185:29 K:BB over 175 innings of work and helped the club to a World Series title.

Justin Verlander
SP HOU
Sun 3/5/23 10:55 AM

Verlander gave up a run on two hits and struck out three in three innings during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.
EDGE Analysis
Making his first appearance of the spring, Verlander fired 28 of 35 pitches for strikes and already looks just about ready for Opening Day. The 40-year-old won his third AL Cy Young Award last season with the Astros, and after signing a two-year, $87 million deal with the Mets this winter, the seemingly ageless ace might just take a run at the NL award in 2023.

Justin Verlander
SP HOU
Mon 2/27/23 1:45 PM

Verlander will start Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
EDGE Analysis
It will be the first start for Verlander in a Mets' uniform. The right-hander signed a two-year, $86.66 million deal in December with a vesting option for 2025 after a dominant 2022 season where he posted a 1.75 ERA and 185:29 K:BB over 175 innings. The reigning Cy Young Award winner will pitch at the top of the Mets' rotation, and once again should be a fantasy stalwart during the 2023 campaign.

Justin Verlander
SP HOU
Wed 12/7/22 7:45 PM

Verlander has signed a two-year, $86.66 million contract with the Mets.
EDGE Analysis
The deal was reported Monday and has now been officially announced by the team. It includes a full no-trade clause and contains a $35 million vesting option for 2025 should Verlander pitch at least 140 innings in 2024. The reigning American League Cy Young winner is headed to the National League for the first time and will serve as Jacob de Grom's de facto replacement.

Justin Verlander
SP HOU
Mon 12/5/22 12:34 PM

Verlander and the Mets agreed Monday on a two-year, $86.66 million contract, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. The contract includes a full no-trade clause and a $35 million vesting option for the 2025 season if he pitches at least 140 innings in 2024, according to Heyman.
EDGE Analysis
After letting ace Jacob deGrom walk in free agency on a five-year, $185 million deal with the Rangers, the Mets secured about as strong of a replacement at the top of the rotation as they could have in Verlander, who took home his third Cy Young Award in 2022. Though he'll be turning 40 years old in February and missed the entire 2021 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery, Verlander demonstrated that he's still one of the game's elite starters by posting an 18-4 record, 1.75 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 185:29 K:BB in 175 innings this past season. The move from the reigning World Series champions to another team with title aspirations in the Mets shouldn't hurt Verlander too much from a wins standpoint, nor should the change in home ballpark from Minute Maid Park to Citi Field hinder his ratios. Expect Verlander to be one of the first pitchers off the board in 2023 fantasy drafts.