Houston ace Justin Verlander has a mild strain of a back muscle and said it would ``probably take a miracle'' for him to pitch on opening day at home against the Angels on March 26.
The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner was hurt on his second-to-last pitch in Sunday's exhibition game against the New York Mets. He had an MRI on Monday and was diagnosed with a strained latissimus dorsi muscle.
There is not a timetable for his return.
Verlander had a similar lat injury during spring training in 2015 and did not make his season debut until June 13.
with files from Associated Press