The MLB postseason kicks off on Tuesday, featuring several intriguing storylines. Notably, the New York Yankees, Cleveland Guardians, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Philadelphia Phillies have all secured first-round byes. Among the key matchups, the surprising Baltimore Orioles will face the Kansas City Royals in one American League Wild Card series, while the Houston Astros will take on the Detroit Tigers in another.
In a surprising turn of events, nine-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion Justin Verlander has been left off the Astros’ postseason roster, as reported by Chandler Rome of The Athletic. This decision raises eyebrows, especially considering Verlander’s pedigree and experience. His absence will be significant for the Astros as they attempt to make a deep run in the playoffs.
With the revised postseason format, the first Wild Card round is a best-of-three series, meaning the first team to win two games advances to the ALDS. Unfortunately for 41-year-old Justin Verlander, his performance this season has been less than stellar, recording a 5-6 record with a 5.48 ERA.
Justin Verlander did not make the Astros’ Wild Card Series roster.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) October 1, 2024
However, there is a possibility that if the Astros progress past the Wild Card round, Verlander could be considered for the NLDS roster. His last outing was on September 28 against the Guardians, where he allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings.
Verlander has a long history with the Astros, having initially started his MLB career with the Detroit Tigers, where he played for four seasons before being traded to Houston in 2017. Except for the 2023 season, during which he started with the New York Mets before returning to the Astros, he has spent every year since with Houston.
The Astros-Tigers series kicks off on Tuesday, featuring Tarik Skubal on the mound for Detroit against Framber Valdez for Houston.
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