Astros' Justin Verlander Behind in Shoulder Injury Rehab, Could Miss MLB Opening Day

The Houston Astros could be without their ace when the 2024 season begins.

Per ESPN, Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander told reporters on Wednesday that he experienced a "little hiccup" in his pitching shoulder that has him "a couple of weeks behind" his traditional schedule and could jeopardize his status for Opening Day.

"I'm a little bit behind schedule right now," Verlander said. "I had a little hiccup early on that's resolved itself, but I have to be really cautious with how I'm building up. I guess my body doesn't respond the same at 40 as it did at 25, so I'm a couple of weeks behind."

Verlander is set to turn 41 next Tuesday. He split the 2023 season between the Astros and the New York Mets, compiling a collective 13-8 record with a 3.22 ERA and 144 strikeouts.

The three-time AL Cy Young Award winner didn't sound too concerned about the possibility of an extended absence, and he said it was "too far down the road" to worry about his availability for Houston's season opener against the New York Yankees on March 28.

However, he noted that he needs rest to recover from his shoulder issue, and that has set him back slightly.

"I've always liked to give myself as much rest as possible, so my timeline is always a little tight," he said. "I think that rest is important, so with the tight timeline and having to slow things down a little bit, put me a little behind."

If Verlander is forced to miss Opening Day, it will be the second straight year that he was ruled out at the beginning of the season. He missed the first five weeks of the 2023 campaign due to a muscle strain near his pitching shoulder suffered in late March.

"I've always been someone who luckily could pick up a ball and just start throwing it," he said. "This time, it wasn't quite as easy, so I had to slow down a little bit."