In about three weeks’ time, the New York Yankees will kick off the 2024 season with an opening series against arch-rivals Houston Astros. Ahead of the d-day, the Bronx Bombers are sweating it out hard in Grapefruit League. While the team had a rough road trip, the overall performance of certain individuals seems promising.
That being said, the New York Yankees are scheduled to face arch-rivals Houston Astros for the opening series of the 2024 MLB season. The Yanks and Astros have never met the eye to eye after the 2022 season world series. Regardless, NYY’s odds of seeking redemption have just elevated after the Astros revealed a mega injury concern.
Justin Verlander Out Vs Yankees With Shoulder Injury
The New York Yankees received a significant boost ahead of their Opening Day matchup against the Houston Astros. Three-time CY Young awardee and future Hall of Famer starter Justin Verlander will begin the coming season on the injury list. Astros manager Joe Espada confirmed the same update on Tuesday. Apparently, Verlander is running a little behind on his shoulder strain recovery. The 41-year-old’s body is taking longer than usual to ensure complete recovery. Notably, Houston has sidelined Verlander from spring training as the pitcher builds up for the season. After multiple assessments, the Astros concluded that the star pitcher would indeed miss the start of the season against the Bronx Bombers.
Meanwhile, for the New York Yankees, Justin Verlander’s absence represents a significant opportunity to capitalize on the weakened Astros lineup and start their season on a positive note. The team can bank on their own pitching staff to step up in Verlander’s absence and deliver strong performances on the mound. Led by ace Gerrit Cole, the Yankees’ rotation boasts a formidable group of starters. That includes Carlos Rodon, Marcus Stroman, Nestor Cortes, and Clarke Schmidt. With their eyes set on reclaiming the top spot in the AL-East and competing for a championship, the Yanks will be looking to take advantage of Verlander’s absence and get off to a strong start in their quest for postseason success. With a talented roster and high expectations, the Bombers are poised to make some noise in the 2024 season and compete for a championship.
Yanks Also Set To Miss Key Pitcher For Opening Day
While the Houston Astros will be without Justin Verlander for the 2024 season opening day, the New York Yankees are also not out of the woods. Skipper Aaron Boone has suggested that relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle is set to miss a few weeks after lagging behind in shoulder injury recovery. Kahnle’s 2023 season ended prematurely with a shoulder strain he sustained in the latter half of the year.
While the reliever returned to spring training in good shape, he is yet to pitch in any games as of yet. Moreover, Aaron Boone has confirmed that Tommy Kahnel will sit out the opening series vs. Astros. While he could be fit by the d-day. But the Yankees would rather have him rest to avert any unnecessary injury concerns.
Stay tuned with Sports News International for more such updates about your favorite MLB team.
