Verlander (elbow) threw 35 pitches across two simulated innings during live batting practice Sunday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Verlander is ramping things up at the start of spring training as he makes his return from Tommy John surgery. The veteran right-hander has pitched in only one game over the past two seasons, but he was as effective as ever in 2019 with a 2.58 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 300:42 K:BB across 223 innings. Verlander should be ready for game action by Opening Day, but he could face some workload limitations given the shortened spring training and length of his absence.