Justin Verlander threw his second live batting practice session in a week Tuesday, pitching two innings in Houston and coming out feeling good.

Verlander, who will start the year on the injured list for the second straight season, faced Grae Kessinger, Jon Singleton and Corey Julks. The right-hander said he threw 32-33 pitches.

“I felt really good. Arm felt good,” said Verlander, who is coming back from a now-resolved right shoulder issue. “One of the biggest things that I was wanting to see today was how I bounce back after resting in between innings. One of the things that has been difficult for me for the last couple months has been ... getting my intent up quickly.

"So after resting for six or seven minutes, can I go out there and just kind of get back to 90-plus miles per hour in a few pitches? I felt like I was able to check that box. That was great.”

Last Wednesday, Verlander threw 20 pitches during a live batting practice session on the back fields of the Astros’ Spring Training home in West Palm Beach, Fla.

On Tuesday, the right-hander threw a mix of fastballs, changeups, sliders and curveballs and topped out at 95 mph.

“Overall, I thought the stuff was really good,” Verlander said. “Mechanically, I saw a lot of stuff after getting off the mound last time that I was able to address and kind of implement. I haven’t been able to look at some of the video, but just based on feel, which I like to base on, it was great.”

Houston manager Joe Espada was impressed with what he saw from Verlander.

“It looked really good,” Espada said. “Up to 95 [mph]. Slider looked really good. He threw some really good changeups to the lefties. He had his step when he was on the mound. His presence was good.”

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The next step in Verlander’s rehabilitation process will be based on how he feels over the next day or two, Verlander said.

Espada had said Monday that Minor League rehabilitation starts could be next.

“There’s a few options,” Verlander said. “It’s all based on how I bounce back. It’s kind of the same way it’s been this whole rehab process. It’s how I feel tomorrow and the next day, and just kind of go from there.”

Verlander was unsure how many rehab starts he might need before he will be ready to start for the Astros.

“I don’t know what the exact number is,” Verlander said. “Obviously, you want to get to a pitch count where you don’t hamstring yourself here at this level when you go out there. What that number is, I think being able to throw 85-plus pitches is where you feel like you can go out there and have a decent start, that can take you six innings and give your team a chance to win. That’s putting the cart before the horse a little bit. We just got to check each box as we go, and I don’t know how many starts that is.”

Espada said he thought both innings Tuesday were good, but it was more than just how well Verlander pitched that Houston's first-year manager was happy to see.

“I thought that first one was as good as his second one,” Espada said of the two innings. “I was looking for more of his presence. He was bouncing around. He was actually calling his own pitches. Some of the pitches were strikes, and he was saying ball because he wanted to execute a pitch behind in the count.

“That’s his level of confidence where he is right now. Once you see that, when I see him pacing around the clubhouse, how energetic he is today, this guy’s ready to go. Today was a really good day for JV.”