Associated Press
Jupiter, Fla. — Trying to shut down big league hitters for the first time in 20 months, Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander quickly got up to speed.
Verlander kept his fastball in the 95 mph range, breezing through two hitless innings against St. Louis in the Astros' spring training opener Friday. He struck out Paul Goldschmidt and Paul DeJong swinging and walked one.
The 39-year-old righty and former Detroit Tiger hadn't pitched in a game since July 2020 — that was his first start of the pandemic-shortened season, and he then underwent Tommy John surgery.