The Houston Astros scratched right-hander Justin Verlander from Saturday’s start against the Detroit Tigers because neck discomfort.

Verlander told reporters prior to Saturday’s game that his neck issue first popped up a couple weeks ago between starts and that he wasn’t sure if it would keep him out for more than one game.

“When I was out there, I felt like it wasn’t really bothering me,” Verlander said. “But when I go home and sit down and really think about it, I think it’s too much of a coincidence and my mechanics were really thrown off.”

Rookie right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (3-5, 5.33 ERA), who was scheduled to pitch the series finale Sunday, will start in place of Verlander (3-2, 3.95).

Verlander, 41, allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings in each of his past two starts. The former American League MVP, nine-time All-Star and three-time Cy Young Award winner missed the first three weeks of the season while recovering from an offseason shoulder injury.

Arrighetti, 24, has yet to face the Tigers in his career. He allowed one run on four hits in 5⅔ innings in a no-decision against the San Francisco Giants on Monday.

Information from Field Level Media was used in this report.

Chicago Cubs left-hander Jordan Wicks was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday, one day after a right oblique strain forced him out his start against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Wicks left the 3-0 loss in the second inning, walking off the field accompanied by a trainer after giving up a two-out single to Dylan Carlson.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said before Saturday’s game against the Cardinals that the team was still awaiting some test results on Wicks.

Wicks gave up two hits and struck out two in his first start and second appearance since returning from a strained left forearm. He was sidelined for six weeks.

The Cubs recalled right-hander Keegan Thompson from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move. Thompson is 1-1 with a 4.97 ERA in nine relief appearances with the Cubs this year.

The 24-year-old Wicks is 1-2 with a 4.18 ERA in seven games (six starts) with Chicago this season. He was a first-round pick in the 2021 amateur draft out of Kansas State.

With Wicks and Ben Brown sidelined by injuries, Kyle Hendricks likely will return to the rotation. The 34-year-old Hendricks has pitched 8⅔ scoreless innings across three relief appearances this month, but he is 0-4 with a 10.57 ERA in seven starts this season.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

The Baltimore Orioles have placed right-hander Kyle Bradish on the15-day injured list with a sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament.

Bradish left Friday night’s start against the Philadelphia Phillies after five innings and 74 pitches, complaining about his elbow. He missed the first month of the season with a sprained UCL and rehabbed the injury instead of undergoing surgery.

Since returning, Bradish has gone 2-0 with a 2.75 ERA in eight starts. Bradish broke out last season, going 12-7 while posting the third-best ERA in the American League (2.83).

The Orioles (45-24) have already lost starting pitchers John Means and Tyler Wells to season-ending UCL injuries.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.