Astros' Justin Verlander: Nursing neck issue

Verlander was scratched from his start Saturday versus the Tigers due to neck discomfort, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.

Verlander was geared up to face his former team Saturday, but he'll now likely have to have his turn in the rotation skipped completely as a result of the neck issue. With Sunday's scheduled starter Spencer Arrighetti now pushed up to toe the rubber Saturday, Houston will likely have to look outside the major-league roster for a fill-in starter Sunday. Left-hander Eric Lauer is with Triple-A Sugar Land and could be an option to be called up. It's unclear whether or not Verlander's injury will require a stint on the injured list, but for now the 41-year-old's next opportunity to return to the mound appears to be next weekend in Baltimore at the earliest.