The Houston Astros have announced their roster for the American League Wild Card Series against the Detroit Tigers, and notably, three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander has been left off the list. Verlander, who has struggled with injuries this season, including neck stiffness that kept him on the injured list for over two months, has not performed up to his usual standards since his return in late August.
Since his return from the injured list, Verlander has posted an 8.10 ERA in seven starts, which has been a significant factor in the Astros' decision. Despite his extensive postseason experience and history with the Astros, including an American League Championship Series MVP performance in 2017, Verlander will not be part of the team's wild-card roster for this series.
Yordan Alvarez Returns to the Lineup
In contrast, slugger Yordan Alvarez has been included in the Astros' roster and will be batting second as the designated hitter in Game 1. Alvarez had been out since September 22 with a right knee sprain but has been cleared to return. Although he is not 100% and will not be running at full speed or sliding, his presence in the lineup is crucial due to his impressive season statistics, including a .308 batting average, 35 home runs, and 86 RBIs.
The Astros' starting pitching for the series will be led by Framber Valdez, who will take the mound for Game 1 against the Tigers' ace Tarik Skubal. Other pitchers on the roster include Yusei Kikuchi, Hunter Brown, Spencer Arrighetti, and Ronel Blanco, along with relievers Bryan Abreu, Caleb Ferguson, Josh Hader, Bryan King, Hector Neris, and Ryan Pressly.
The series marks the Tigers' first postseason appearance since the era of Justin Verlander, who was traded to the Astros in 2017. The Tigers need to win two out of three games at Minute Maid Park to advance to the ALDS against the Cleveland Guardians.
