Justin Verlander DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Justin Verlander (pectoral) appears to be on the verge of returning to the starting rotation. Verlander threw a bullpen session on Saturday and reportedly felt good. Afterwards, manager Bob Melvin said they expect Verlander to rejoin the rotation next homestand. The veteran right-hander has been sidelined since the middle of May due to a pectoral issue. He wasn't pitching great before that, but the Giants will certainly take the help. Verlander is worth a look in deep leagues at the very least once he's back in the mix. The Giants are uncertain where exactly Verlander is going to slide into the rotation.

San Francisco Giants right-hander Justin Verlander (pectoral) threw a 65-pitch simulated game at Coors Field on Wednesday and could rejoin the big-league starting rotation when the team returns home to face the Cleveland Guardians from June 17-19, according to MLB.com. Verlander has been on the 15-day injured list since May 22 with a strained right pectoral muscle, but he's on the cups of returning to the Gigantes' starting rotation. Before his injury, the future Hall of Famer looked like a pitcher nearing the end of his career, going 0-3 with a 4.33 ERA and 1.40 WHIP with 41 strikeouts and 21 walks in 52 innings over his 10 starts. He currently ranks in just the 25th percentile in strikeout rate, 56th percentile in whiff rate and 12th percentile in barrel rate. His opponent's expected batting average is also in the 19th percentile. Injuries and age have sapped Verlander of his dominance.

San Francisco Giants right-hander Justin Verlander (pectoral) is expected to throw another simulated game on Wednesday at Coors Field in Colorado before the team's game against the Rockies, according to MLB.com. Verlander continues to recover from a strained right pectoral muscle that landed him on the 15-day injured list on May 22. Barring a setback, the 42-year-old three-time Cy Young winner is expected to rejoin the team's starting rotation in the middle of June. He tossed 35 to 40 pitches during his first simulated game this past Friday and should be expected to build on that workload this week. If Verlander avoids a setback on Wednesday, he could be cleared to come off the IL without going on a minor-league rehab assignment. The nine-time All-Star is no longer the dominant pitcher he once was and was 0-3 with a 4.33 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and weak 18.2% strikeout rate before his injury.

San Francisco Giants right-handed pitcher Justin Verlander (pectoral) was able to complete a 35-4 pitch simulated game on Friday and is set to undergo further evaluation on Saturday. The 42-year-old was placed on the 15-day injured list on May 22 with a right pectoral strain and appears to be progressing well through his recovery. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he could be cleared to take the next steps in his process. The team has not decided whether he will need to complete a rehab assignment before returning. Before the injury, Verlander posted a modest 4.33 ERA with a 1.40 WHIP across 52 innings. He tallied only 41 strikeouts. Given his struggles through the early part of the season, he is only worth rostering in deeper formats for the time being.

San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Justin Verlander (pectoral) was able to throw a successful simulated game on Friday. Verlander threw around 35 pitches over two innings of work during this session. The 42-year-old reportedly felt good and could miss a rehab assignment and rejoin the Giants rotation. The organization might wait a few days and see how Verlander feels, but it sounds like the veteran right-hander is ready to return. Verlander has been sidelined since mid-May due to a pectoral strain. He's not a great fantasy option, but is worth a look in deep leagues.