VERLANDER READY FOR ASTROS DEBUT
HOUSTON» When Astros manager A.J. Hinch called to welcome Justin Verlander to the team, the pitcher’s first question was when he would make his debut.
The answer is Tuesday at Seattle after the Astros orchestrated a last-minute deal with the Tigers on Thursday night to acquire the right-hander and bolster their rotation as they eye a deep playoff run in October.
“I couldn’t be more excited to join the Astros and am looking forward to getting started right away,” Verlander said in an Instagram post Friday. “I am committed to making an impact off the field, especially during difficult times.”
Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said his team had been trying to get Verlander since late July but wasn’t able to pull it off until just before the deadline for having players eligible for postseason play.
“I was confident that we were going to get the deal over the finish line,” Luhnow said Friday. “But obviously there were times I had my doubts, even through the last 20 minutes or so.”
The trade gives the American League West-leading Astros a powerful 1-2-3 punch at the top of their rotation, with 2015 Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers pairing with Verlander, who won the AL Cy Young and MVP awards in 2011.
Fulmer has numb hand.
DETROIT» Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer will miss at least two starts because of recurring numbness in his pitching hand.
Fulmer, Detroit’s No. 1 pitcher after the stunning trade of Verlander, has been bothered by the problem for most of the season — and it has gotten worse in the second half.
“We’re going to have him see Dr. James Andrews in about a week, and he won’t start again until after that,” manager Brad Ausmus said. “If something needs to be done, we want to get a jump on it so that he’s ready for next season.”
Beltre shut down for weeks.
TEXAS» Adrian Beltre ARLINGTON, could miss the rest of the regular season after an MRI showed a Grade 2 strain in his left hamstring.
The Rangers said Beltre is expected to be sidelined for a minimum of four weeks. That would take his recovery into the final weekend of the regular season in which Beltre posted his 3,000th career hit.
That does leave open the possibility that Beltre could be available if the Rangers make it to the playoffs.
Norris hit with suspension.
YORK» Major League Baseball NEW suspended free-agent catcher Derek Norris for the rest of the season for violating MLB’s domestic violence policy nearly two years ago.
The commissioner’s office said Norris violated the policy Oct. 21, 2015.