Astros' three-time Cy Young winner shares injury update after rehab start

The surging Astros could soon receive a major boost.

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander has a second rehab start scheduled for Triple-A Sugar Land this week, and it's possible he will rejoin the Astros afterward.

Per Spectrum News , Verlander allowed one run in three innings of his first rehab start on Saturday. He threw 52 pitches (36 strikes).

Following the game, the two-time World Series champion told reporters, "Physically, felt good."

"Was able to step on a few fastballs there at the end," Verlander added , before noting he "checked all the boxes I needed to." (h/t Houston Chronicle)

Verlander (neck stiffness) hasn't made an MLB start since June 9.  In 10 starts this season, he has gone 3-2 with a 3.95 earned run average (ERA).

At the time of Verlander's injury, the Astros were mired in a rough start to the season. Houston was 30-36 on June 9, which ranked as the league's eighth-worst record, per FanGraphs .

The team has fared much better in the two months since. Instead of needing Verlander to save Houston's season, he's set to join a team in the thick of the AL West race.

The Astros have the major's third-most wins (32) over the past two months and are tied with the Mariners (63-56) for first in their division.

According to FanGraphs data , Houston has the fourth-best team ERA (3.55) since June 9. Its starters have posted a 3.53 ERA, which only trails the Mariners (2.96) for the league's lowest mark during that span.

Per ESPN Bet , the Astros (-170) are the favorites to win the AL West.