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Justin Verlander makes rehab start, with manager Espada saying 'everything was positive'

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Justin Verlander makes rehab start, with manager Espada saying 'everything was positive'
Sport

Sport

Justin Verlander makes rehab start, with manager Espada saying 'everything was positive'

2024-08-12 02:18 Last Updated At:02:30

BOSTON (AP) — Justin Verlander took his first step to returning to the Houston Astros, tossing three innings for Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday night.

Working back from neck stiffness that’s sidelined him for two months, the 41-year-old, three-time Cy Young Award winner threw 52 pitches and 36 strikes, allowing one run with three strikeouts and two walks.

Astros manager Joe Espada said they were waiting to hear how he felt Sunday, and then he’ll probably get another rehab start before he could get back to the majors.

“Everything was positive, so hopefully we can get one more and then we can get him on the major-league level,” Espada said Sunday morning, standing outside the dugout at Fenway Park before the Astros faced the Red Sox in the series finale. “It’s all about JV, depending how he feels for what he needs to get him back here to stay.”

Verlander hasn’t pitched since June 9. He also missed the beginning of the season with right shoulder inflammation before going 3-2 with a 3.95 ERA in 10 starts. He made his season debut April 19.

“Physically, I felt good,” Verlander told reporters after his start Saturday. “Checked all the boxes I needed to today. I was able to throw everything, but execution wasn’t as good as I would like. I try not to be too nitpicky. Health is first and foremost, the hard thing with coming back on rehab starts is you don’t have as many starts to fine tune all your mechanics like we do in spring training. You have to be a bit critical in execution and try to get better next time out.”

Espada said his fastball reached 95 a few times.

“He reported everything went really well, waiting to hear from him this morning,” Espada said.

A two-time World Series champion with the Astros, Verlander left for the New York Mets in free agency before the 2023 season. He was traded back to Houston in August last year.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

FILE - Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws during a simulated game Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox, File)

FILE - Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander throws during a simulated game Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox, File)

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Grand National: I Am Maximus set to start as favorite in famous British horse race

2025-04-05 16:24 Last Updated At:16:31

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — One of the biggest events on Britain’s sporting calendar takes place Saturday when the Grand National horse race is run at Aintree in northwest England.

The pre-race favorite for the grueling steeplechase over 30 fences is set to be I Am Maximus, the winner of the 2024 edition who is looking to become just the second horse to win back-to-back Nationals since Red Rum in the 1970s.

I Am Maximus is handicapped by the top weight for the race as he looks to back up a victory by 7½ lengths last year. His owner is JP McManus, who is bidding for a record fourth win in the National.

There will be 34 runners for the 177th running of the popular race over 4¼ miles (6.9 kilometers) that is often the subject of household and office sweepstakes and targeted by animal-rights activists.

The Grand National has long been regarded as one of the most dangerous horse races in the world because of the size of the fences, though a number of new measures were introduced last year in an attempt to make it safer.

The race is scheduled to start at 1500 GMT.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Gidleigh Park ridden by Bryan Carver in the EBC Group Manifesto Novices' Chase on day one of the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, England, Thursday April 3, 2025. (David Davies/PA via AP)

Gidleigh Park ridden by Bryan Carver in the EBC Group Manifesto Novices' Chase on day one of the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, England, Thursday April 3, 2025. (David Davies/PA via AP)

Gracchus De Balme ridden by Huw Edwards on their way to winning the Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase on day one of the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, England, Thursday April 3, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Gracchus De Balme ridden by Huw Edwards on their way to winning the Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase on day one of the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, England, Thursday April 3, 2025. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

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