Verlander slated to make season debut Friday vs. Nats

HOUSTON — Justin Verlander will make his long-awaited season debut for the Astros on Friday against the Nationals in Washington, D.C., manager Joe Espada announced on Wednesday. Verlander, who threw a bullpen session on Tuesday, worked four innings Saturday for Double-A Corpus Christi in his final Minor League rehab start. “The first thing is health, and I came out of [Saturday’s game] feeling good,” Verlander said. “Obviously, I have some stuff to work on pitching-wise, but that’s kind of what Spring Training is for and what rehab starts are for. I felt better last time than I did the [rehab…