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Without Justin Verlander, Where Do Astros Go From Here?

Under different circumstances, Justin Verlander’s clarification would have been hugely important: He did indeed have a forearm strain, he said, but it would sideline him just temporarily, rather than for the rest of the season.

Under these circumstances, however? There might not be much of a difference between “out temporarily” and “out for the year.” In a 60-game season, the terms for analyzing an injury have been distorted: A 10-day IL stint is not what it used to be. There's no longer such a tough road to October. And the incentive structure for the entire season has shifted.