The Detroit Tigers will not have to face Justin Verlander in the playoffs.
The former Tigers legend was left off the Houston Astros wild-card roster for the three-game series against Detroit. Houston opted to carry 14 position players and 11 pitchers with Framber Valdez , Yusei Kukuchi, Hunter Brown and Spencer Arreghetti as the potential starting pitching options.
Valdez is Houston's Game 1 starter on Tuesday. He was 15-7 in 2024 with a 2.91 ERA.
Verlander has struggled since coming back from the injured list in August from neck stiffness. He posted an 8.10 ERA in seven starts since coming off the IL. He will miss the first and potentially only opportunity to face his former team in a playoff setting.
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In other key injury news for Houston, slugger Yordan Alvarez is healthy and in the lineup for Game 1. He had been out since Spet. 22 with a right knee sprain, but will be batting third as the designated hitter. He hit .308 with 35 home runs in 147 games this season.
This is the Tigers' first postseason appearance in the post-Verlander era and they will have their newest pitching Triple Crown winner, Tarik Skubal , on the mound for Game 1. The Tigers need to win two out of three over the next three days at Minute Maid Park to advance to the ALDS against the Cleveland Guardians .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Justin Verlander left off Astros wild-card roster vs Detroit Tigers
