Houston Astros star pitcher Justin Verlander had surgery on a right groin injury, the team said Tuesday. The procedure will sideline Verlander for some six weeks -- which means the reigning American League Cy Young Award-winner could be ready for action by the time Major League Baseball gets under way after pushing back the start of the season to sometime in May in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Astros general manager James Click said Verlander, whose first scheduled spring training start was delayed because of groin discomfort, had hoped physical therapy would be enough to address the issue. "After a recent setback in his rehab, the medical staff recommended that a surgical procedure was necessary," Click said. bb/rcw