Justin Verlander has an ugly start to Mets tenure
Justin Verlander’s first outing for the Mets will help him fit in with his struggling teammates.
Verlander made his debut for the Mets on Thursday against his former team, the Tigers, after suffering a strained teres major muscle on his throwing arm during spring training.
The three-time Cy Young winner was given a standing ovation by Detroit fans in his return, and they had reason to keep cheering into the first inning.
Justin Verlander got a harsh welcome back to Detroit in his Mets debut. Getty Images
Verlander gave up back-to-back, one-out solo home runs to outfielder Riley Greene and shortstop Javy Baez before getting the final two outs.
The 40-year-old was able to settle down and limit the damage, throwing four scoreless innings and finishing the afternoon with five strikeouts and walk, tossing 52 of his 79 pitches for strikes.
Verlander signed with the Mets on a two-year, $86 million deal in December.
Verlander was able to settle down, tossing four scoreless innings before his afternoon came to a close. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
“It’s nice to finally sort of get that little energy, that nervousness starts to kick in,” Verlander said Wednesday before his Mets debut.
Verlander pitched just one rehab game, last week in Double-A Binghamton.
“I wanted to get back here as soon as possible, but also safely,” he told reporters this week.
“In my mind I thought it was a fairly aggressive [approach], but fair in a good way. It’s a little bit of a jump, but I thought it was very doable, especially since I continued throwing since spring training.”
Verlander’s Mets start had been delayed by a shoulder injury. Getty Images
The Mets have lost eight of 10 games after Max Scherzer was roughed up in the second half of a doubleheader sweep by the Tigers on Wednesday.
Source: New York Post
