Justin Verlander made his first rehab start on Friday in Double-A coming back from a teres major strain he suffered right before the start of the season and pitched well.
The 40-year-old went 4.2 innings, giving up no runs on two hits, one walk while striking out six. He threw 69 pitches in the outing.
“I feel pretty good,” he said after the game. “I think first and foremost getting through it healthy, I think I could’ve tightened up my pitch shapes a little bit, but I don’t want to be too picky it’s my first game action in over a month, so to be healthy is the biggest and most important factor and I checked that box.”
Verlander got through his first start in over a month with no issues physically and says he’s ready to go whenever the Mets call his number.
The team will likely make an announcement regarding Verlander’s next steps in the next day or two just to make sure he feels good in the coming days.
“I’m assuming a lot of it is gonna depend on how I bounce back tomorrow and the following day,” Verlander said. “I don’t know how the rotation is lined up right now so I don’t know what’s going to go into that.”
Verlander doesn’t believe another rehab start is in the books and says he’s “ready to go” and “eager” to make his debut for New York.
“Very excited to finally have a chance to pitch for the Mets,” he said. “Obviously I’ve said it a few times, but not the way I envisioned starting my career here, but unfortunately these things happen and I’m doing everything I can to be back and to be successful.”
He added: “One rehab start is hopefully enough and I can dial it in at the big league level.”