Opening Day is an unofficial holiday for all baseball fans, but it didn’t start out as a celebration for the New York Mets.
Before the team began the regular season, Justin Verlander was placed on the disabled list.
The team called the 40-year-old’s injury a «low-grade major thirds» strain, also known as the armpit.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Justin Verlander of the New York Mets throws a pitch against the Miami Marlins in the first inning at Roger Dean Stadium on March 4, 2023 in Jupiter, Florida. (Jasen Vinlove/Miami Marlins/Getty Images)
The Mets signed Verlander in the offseason to a two-year, $86 million deal after losing Jacob deGrom to the Texas Rangers.
The right-hander missed time on the disabled list last year en route to an arguably the best third Cy Young season of his career.
Mets pitcher Justin Verlander enters his introductory press conference at Citi Field on December 20, 2022 in New York City. (Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
MLB OPENING DAY: THREE IMPORTANT RULE CHANGES FOR THE 2023 SEASON
With the World Series champion Houston Astros, Verlander led the majors with a 1.75 ERA, by far the lowest of his career. But what made it even more impressive was the fact that he missed the entire 2021 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery the year before, where he made just one start before injuring himself.
Tylor Megill will take the future Hall of Famer’s place in the rotation.
New York Mets pitcher Justin Verlander during spring training on February 17, 2023, in Port St. Lucie, Florida. (Alejandra Villa Loarca/Newsday RM via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The Mets begin their season in Miami against the Marlins on Thursday at 4:10 p.m., where two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer will take the hit. New York will be opposed by Sandy Alcantara, who won the award last year.