SUGAR LAND, Texas — Houston ace Justin Verlander is scheduled to make his first rehabilitation start at Triple-A Sugar Land Sunday.
The 41-year-old Verlander, who opened the season on the injured list with inflammation in his right shoulder, will throw a bullpen session Thursday in Houston before making his start this weekend.
Manager Joe Espada said he expects this to be the first of two minor league starts Verlander will make before he comes off the injured list.
“Just based on what I’ve seen and out of his live BPs and how he’s talking about how he feels, I think two starts... should be good enough,” Espada said.
Espada said they want Verlander to throw 70-75 pitches on Sunday and get up 85-90 in the following start.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner is in his second stint in Houston after rejoining the team in a trade with the New York Mets in July.
He went 13-8 with a 3.22 ERA in 27 starts for the Mets and Astros last season.
Space Cowboys tickets
The Sugar Land Space Cowboys will take on the Las Vegas Aviators Sunday at Constellation Field as Verlander starts his rehab stint.
Tickets are still available as of Saturday morning ranging in price from $15 to $78. The first 2,000 fans will receive a free pair of eclipse glasses, courtesy of First Service Credit Union. Gates open at 12:30 p.m. and the first pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.
Sunday is also Orion's Kids Day where kids will get the opportunity to play catch on the field, get player autographs and run the bases.
