Red Sox pitcher Giolito has elbow repaired with internal brace, expected to miss season

Boston Red Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito is expected to miss this season after his right ulnar collateral ligament was repaired with an internal brace.

Dr. Jeffrey R. Dugas operated Tuesday at the Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center in Birmingham, Ala. Giolito was able to avoid ligament replacement surgery, which he had on Aug. 31, 2012, with Dr. Lewis Yocum, less than two months after Washington made Giolito the top overall pick in the 2012 amateur draft.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said before Wednesday's game at the New York Yankees he doesn't think Giolito will take the mound again in 2024.

Recovery from the internal brace surgery, which uses an artificial material to make the repair, has allowed pitchers to return to the major leagues in as little as nine months. Tommy John surgery, which uses a tendon from elsewhere in the body to replace the torn ligament, has a usual rehab period of 12 to 18 months.

"So go through the process and hopefully he gets back sooner rather than later, you know, whenever that is, but I do believe it was like the best-case scenario," Cora said. "Seeing what has happened with this procedure in the past, he's going to be able to go out there and throw his changeup and his good fastball and help the Red Sox win some more games."

Giolito, who signed a two-year deal worth $38.5 million US with the Red Sox, turns 30 in July.

He made two spring training. starts He threw a pair of scoreless innings in his first outing before on Feb. 25 against Minnesota, then reported discomfort in the elbow allowing four runs and three walks in 2 1/3 innings against the Twins on March 1.

Giolito reached the major leagues in 2016 with Washington. He was a 2019 all-star while pitching for the Chicago White Sox and has been reliable during his big-league career, throwing at least 160 innings in five of the last six seasons. He is 61-62 with a 4.43 earned-run average in 178 starts and two relief appearances.

Verlander needs time to get game-ready

Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander will open the season on the injured list after dealing with right shoulder inflammation during the off-season, which could jeopardize his conditional $35 million US option for 2025.

Astros manager Joe Espada said Tuesday the 41-year-old Verlander hasn't suffered any setbacks but needs more time to become game ready.

"He's doing very well, but we're just running out of days here, and we won't be able to build him up enough to start the season," Espada told reporters. "It's just a timing issue. We want to do what's best for J.V. and our club, and this is what's best for us right now."

Verlander hasn't experienced any soreness in his shoulder after bullpen sessions, the manager said. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is expected to throw in the bullpen again on Friday but has yet to face hitters.

"We want to make sure to do it smart and not fast," Espada said. "We need him for the long haul. It's a long season, and we need a healthy J.V. throughout the season."

Verlander is expected to return early in the season. He called the injury "a little hiccup" in February but said he will be "really cautious on how I'm building up."

Verlander signed a two-year deal worth $86.67 million with the New York Mets ahead of the 2023 season, then was traded back to Houston on Aug. 2. He helped the Astros win their sixth American League West crown in seven seasons before they lost to Texas in the AL Championship Series.

Gray has strained hamstring

St. Louis Cardinals ace Sonny Gray could miss an opening day start because of a mild right hamstring strain sustained in his latest spring training outing.

Gray had been slated to start at the Los Angeles Dodgers on March 28.

The three-time all-star right-hander left his start Monday against Washington after 20 pitches. The Cardinals initially said Gray had tightness in his hamstring, and an MRI revealed the strain.

"We've had some encouraging news that it's a mild strain. Not going to put any return-to-play [date] on it," president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said. "It's been less than 24 hours. We're going to see how he responds over the next few days."

Gray has a history of hamstring injuries, twice missing time during the 2022 season with Minnesota.

Following their poorest season since 1995, the Cardinals gave Gray a three-year, $75-million contract in November to anchor a revamped rotation that includes fellow newcomer Kyle Gibson and returning starter Lance Lynn.

Gray is coming off one of the best seasons of his 11-year major league career, going 8-8 with a 2.79 ERA for Minnesota while finishing second to the New York Yankees' Gerrit Cole in AL Cy Young voting.