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Astros general manager Dana Brown said Justin Verlander (neck) has resumed playing catch.

Advice: The 41-year-old has been on the injured list since the middle of June with a neck issue, and the Astros have been tight-lipped about his recovery. According to The Athletic’s Chandler Rome, “Verlander has deferred all questions to the team, which remains insistent this injury is just a neck issue,” but the team has said that he’ll need a prolonged buildup and then at least one rehab start, which means a return before the All-Star break feels unlikely. Rotoworld Today, 7:50 am

Pfaadt allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out eight over six innings Sunday against the Athletics. He did not factor into the decision.

Advice: Pfaadt carried a shutout into the fifth inning before serving up a solo home run to Zack Gelof to tie the game at one apiece. That was the lone mark against him, though it was enough to cost him a chance at the win after the Diamondbacks didn't take the lead back until the bottom of the seventh. Sunday was the third time in June Pfaadt punched out eight batters, but it came on the heels of consecutive starts in which he combined for just two strikeouts in 12.2 innings. Length has been a strength for Pfaadt, as he's gone at least six innings in 13 of his last 15 starts. The 25-year-old owns a 4.28 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 94:26 K:BB in 103 innings and lines up for his next start against division-rival Padres over the weekend. Rotowire.com Today, 6:28 am

Langford hit for the cycle in Sunday's 11-2 win over the Orioles, going 4-for-5 with four RBI and three runs scored.

Advice: Langford made history with the first cycle of the 2024 MLB season Sunday night. He flew out his first time up and then took off from there, tripling in the fourth and then later completing things with a three-run blast in his final at-bat of the evening in the eighth. Langford is putting together quite the rookie campaign despite the season struggles from the Rangers. He became the first rookie in MLB history with a cycle, a grand slam and an inside-the-park home run in a season. He also became the first Rangers rookie to hit for a cycle since 1985. Langford caps off a productive month of June, during which he slashed .309/.368/.526 with three homers, 22 RBI, 11 runs, six steals and an 8:17 BB:K in 106 plate appearances. Rotowire.com Today, 1:43 am

Severino did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing four runs on eight hits and a walk over seven innings against the Astros. He struck out three.

Advice: Severino was highly efficient if not incredibly effective, needing just 79 pitches to complete seven innings despite allowing four runs and nine baserunners while throwing a first-pitch strike to just 13 of 28 batters. He also struck out only three after fanning a season-high 10 batters in his previous outing. It's the fifth consecutive start in which he's gone at least six innings, though it's the second time within those starts that he allowed at least four earned runs. Severino's next opportunity to toe the rubber is slated to take place next weekend when the Mets travel to Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 7:54 pm