AROUND THE HORN

Astros: Justin Verlander is doing well in his recovery from Tommy John surgery and says he still has unbridled passion for the game at 38. The two-time AL Cy Young Award winner is throwing from 90 feet and feeling great, but said it’s far too early to have a timeline for his return. Verlander, made just one start in 2020, pitching six innings on July 24 in a win over the Mariners on opening day before being placed on the injured list with strained right forearm. He attempted a comeback after he was injured, but announced on Sept. 19, 2020 that he needed Tommy John surgery and underwent the procedure on Oct. 1. Verlander is making $33 million this year, then is eligible for free agency. He said he hasn’t had any conversations with the Astros about his future with the team and said he wouldn’t expect there to be any until much farther down the road. “I don’t know why there would be at this point,” he said. “I think anybody would like to see how my rehab continues to go further down the line. I think I would have to prove that I’m that I’m healthy before that was even a topic of conversation.” He had one year left on his contract when he signed a new deal adding $66 million over two seasons before the 2019 season. Verlander joined the Astros in a trade on Aug. 31, 2017 and his stellar performance helped them to their first World Series title that season. He’s 43-15 with a 2.45 ERA and 640 strikeouts in 74 starts with the Astros. Verlander went 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA in 2019, striking out a career-high 300 and throwing the third no-hitter of his career to win his second career Cy Young. He pitched 223 innings, most in the majors, and made six more starts in the postseason as the Astros reached the World Series. Verlander is 226-129 with a 3.33 ERA in 16 seasons. Along with his Cy Young Awards, he was voted the 2011 AL MVP and was the 2006 AL rookie of the year. He has 3,013 strikeouts. Asked if he thinks he can be an even better pitcher when he returns after recovering from this surgery, Verlander said “I wouldn’t be surprised . ... I hope all this work is for something.”

Indians: Indians two-time Gold Glove C Roberto Pérez will be sidelined for months following surgery on a fractured right ring finger. Pérez played in pain for several weeks with the fracture, which happened when he got crossed up by reliever James Karinchak on April 14. Pérez broke the finger on his throwing hand when he caught the pitch barehanded. He left the Indians’ series against the Royals to visit hand specialist Dr. Thomas Graham, who performed the operation. Manager Terry Francona couldn’t provide a definitive timeline on how long Pérez will be out this time, but said it “it’s not weeks, but months.” Pérez’s batting average dropped nearly 100 points after he got hurt.

Cubs: Zach Davies allowed five hits in seven scoreless innings, Rex Brothers got his first save in eight years and the Cubs held on to beat the Pirates 3-2 on Friday, extending their winning streak to four. Joc Pederson had three hits and an RBI for the Cubs, who were coming off a three-game sweep of the World Series champion Dodgers. The Cubs got back to .500 at 16-16. The Pirates lost seven of eight. Davies (2-2), acquired from the Padres in a seven-player deal in December, had his best outing for the Cubs on a chilly day at Wrigley Field, with the wind blowing in. He limited the Pirates to five singles while walking one and hitting a batter.