Mets ace Justin Verlander delivers strong outing in Double-A rehab start

New York Mets fans got some good news Friday when ace pitcher Justin Verlander gave up two hits in 4 2/3 scoreless innings in a rehab outing for Double-A Binghamton.

The 40-year-old right-hander struckout six and walked one for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies against Cleveland’s Akron RubberDucks, throwing 52 of 69 pitches for strikes in a 6-1 victory.

“Felt good physically,” said Mets manager Buck Showalter before Friday’s game against Atlanta. “It’s been good, get it to 70 and we’ll see where we go from there, see how it recovers tomorrow, but so far so good.”

Verlander could make his Mets debut next week with the Detroit Tigers. Showalter said the Mets will evaluate Verlander on Saturday and decide if he needs another rehab.

Verlander, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, had not pitched since his fifth and final spring training session on March 26. He threw 95 pitches against Miami that day.

He was scheduled to start the Mets’ third game of the season, at the Marlins on April 1, but the Mets announced before their opener on March 30 that he was placed on the injured list due to a strained upper back muscle, which the team called a low-grade teres major species.

Verlander signed a two-year, $86.67 million contract with the Mets during the offseason after going 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA in 28 starts last year and helping the Houston Astros win the World Series. He won his third Cy Young.

Verlander missed nearly all of the 2020 and 2021 seasons due to Tommy John surgery.

The New York rotation will miss José Quintana (left rib fracture) and Carlos Carrasco (right elbow inflammation).

Max Scherzer is serving a 10-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball foreign substance bans. Barring rain showers, he is eligible to return on Monday.

“Felt good physically,” said Mets manager Buck Showalter before Friday’s game