San Francisco Giants’ right-hander Justin Verlander landed on the 15-day injured list with a right pectoral injury. He realized after a side session on Wednesday that he couldn’t make his scheduled start against the Washington Nationals.
This is another setback for the 42-year-old veteran. Verlander has struggled in his first season with the Giants and hasn’t managed a win in 10 starts so far.
On top of that, the Giants announced infielder David Villar cleared waivers and chose to become a free agent. The roster’s shifting, and honestly, it feels like more changes could be coming.
Justin Verlander’s Injury and Impact on the Giants
The Giants have to deal with Justin Verlander missing time right when they need him. His right pectoral injury—especially at his age—raises a lot of questions about what’s next.
After that side session on Wednesday, it was clear Verlander couldn’t go against the Nationals. Not great timing, but what can you do?
Details of the Injury
Verlander’s dealing with nerve irritation in his pectoral muscle. That kind of injury can be tricky, and nobody seems sure how long it’ll actually take to heal.
At least it’s not related to the neck injury he had last year with the Astros. The Giants say they’re optimistic he’ll only miss two starts, maybe just the minimum 15 days.
Performance Struggles in 2025
This 2025 season has been rough for Verlander. In 10 starts, he’s 0-3 with a 4.33 ERA.
His last outing against the Oakland Athletics pretty much summed it up—velocity and command just weren’t there. Five walks in four innings? Not what you’d expect from him.
Stats and Career Overview
Even with these struggles, Verlander’s career numbers are wild. Three-time AL Cy Young winner, 2011 AL MVP—he’s got the hardware.
Over 20 years in the big leagues, he’s racked up a 262-150 record and a 3.31 ERA in 536 starts. This season, he’s struck out 41 batters and walked 21 in 52 innings.
Manager Bob Melvin’s Perspective
Manager Bob Melvin hopes Verlander can bounce back quickly. Verlander isn’t thrilled about missing time, but Melvin thinks it’s the right call.
Melvin hasn’t named a replacement starter for the Nationals game yet. The team will have to shuffle things around, and it’s anyone’s guess who gets the ball.
David Villar’s Free Agency
Alongside the Verlander news, the Giants said David Villar cleared waivers and chose free agency. That opens up another spot on the roster.
Maybe they’ll look for infield help, or maybe they’ll give someone from the minors a shot. Hard to say, but change seems to be in the air.
Villar’s Career with the Giants
David Villar contributed as a utility infielder during his time with the Giants. Now that he’s a free agent, he’ll be searching for a team where he can get more playing time and maybe a better fit.
Conclusion
The San Francisco Giants just hit a tough spot in their season. They put Justin Verlander on the 15-day injured list, and nobody’s thrilled about it.
The team hopes he bounces back fast, but let’s be honest—his absence could shake things up. Losing David Villar at the same time? That just adds more stress to their roster puzzle.
Now the Giants have to figure out how to handle all this if they want to keep up in the league. It’s not going to be simple, and fans are probably holding their breath.
If you want more info or just want to dig deeper, check out the full article on ESPN.
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