Verlander to miss 6 weeks after groin surgery

Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander is expected to be out for approximately six weeks after undergoing surgery on his right groin, the club announced Tuesday.

Verlander's groin issue forced him to push back his first spring training start. He was then shut down on March 9 due to a lat strain that was expected to sideline him for the start of the regular season before the coronavirus outbreak postponed Opening Day.

"The hope was that physical therapy would be the proper course of action," Astros general manager James Click said of Verlander, according to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle. "However, after a recent setback in his rehab, the medical staff recommended that a surgical procedure was necessary."

Verlander, 37, is the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner. The eight-time All-Star posted a 2.58 ERA with 300 strikeouts for the Astros in 2019.