The Houston Astros denied a Detroit Free Press reporter access to Justin Verlander after Wednesday night’s 2-1 loss to the Tigers.
An Astros spokesman told the newspaper that writer Anthony Fenech had been denied access at the pitcher’s request.
Verlander refused to speak to the media with Fenech there, explaining Thursday on his Twitter feed that it was due to “unethical behavior in the past.”
“I reached out to the @freep multiple times before the game to notify them why and to give them an opportunity to have someone else there. Ironically they didn’t answer,” Verlander wrote.
Free Press executive editor Peter Bhatia said the newspaper will file a protest with the Astros and Major League Baseball.
“Blocking a working reporter from doing his job is unprofessional, disappointing and intolerable,” Bhatia said.
Fenech has been the Tigers’ beat writer for the Free Press since 2015.
Verlander, who pitched for Detroit from 2005 to 2017, took the loss on Wednesday after allowing two runs on two hits with 11 strikeouts.
–Field Level Media
The San Francisco Giants will look to further close the gap in their all-time rivalry with the visiting Oakland Athletics when they seek a second straight win Wednesday night in…
The Cleveland Guardians and Los Angeles Angels will play the third game of their four-game series Wednesday night in Anaheim, Calif., as the Guardians try to rediscover their offense. Cleveland’s…
The Los Angeles Kings are playoff-bound for the first time since the 2017-18 season. The Kings (43-27-10, 96 points) punched their postseason ticket Tuesday night when Dallas defeated Vegas in…
Guardians, slumping Franmil Reyes take on Shohei Ohtani’s Angels
Playoff-bound Kings seek to keep Kraken reeling
Six-man rotation kicks in as Astros, Cristian Javier face Rangers
Jason Robertson, Stars can lock up playoff berth vs. Coyotes