When Justin Verlander got José Ramírez to line out to end the sixth inning in last week’s game between the Houston Astros and the Cleveland Guardians, the righty veteran walked off the field having thrown six shutout innings. Barely breaking stride, or a smile, it was yet another stellar outing on the mound.
Thursday’s victory wasn’t just another game, though. It gave Verlander his 15th win of the season and lowered his ERA to 1.73, both the best in the majors. For a 39-year-old who appeared in just one game in the previous two seasons – due to an arm injury and then Tommy John surgery to repair the damaged ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow – it was another reminder of just how special a pitcher Verlander is, and how historic a season he’s putting together.
As the ace of a pitching staff that leads the AL in several major categories, including ERA, WHIP and opponents’ batting average, Verlander is a big reason why the Astros are battling with the New York Yankees for the AL’s best record. As a mark of just how dominant he’s been, Verlander is odds on favorite to win his third American League Cy Young award, and is also the runaway leader according to ESPN’s Cy Young Predictor.
Having won the award in 2011 and 2019, Verlander could join a list of only 10 others to win at least three Cy Young Awards in MLB history. And at 39, he would become part of an even smaller list to win the award at such a late age.
What’s even more remarkable is the youth of the three pitchers closest to taking the award away from him this year, if you can even call them close. Chicago White Sox’s Dylan Cease, 26, Toronto’s Alek Manoah, 24, and Tampa’s Shane McClanahan, 25, have fewer than 175 starts between them, compared with Verlander’s mammoth 473 over 17 seasons. When Verlander won his first Cy Young in 2011, and his first MVP in the same season, Cease, Manoah and McClanahan were still in high school.
Regardless of awards and his competition, Verlander may actually be getting better. If the 2022 season ended today, he would have career bests in ERA and win-loss percentage, tied-best walks per nine innings, and his second-best WHIP and opponents’ batting average, among his seasons where he pitched more than 35 innings. And if Verlander continues at this pace for a projected 10 remaining regular-season starts, he’ll eclipse 20 wins for just the third time in his career. The other two times coming in his two Cy Young seasons to date.
How is Verlander still logging sparkling numbers despite throwing more than 3,000 innings in his career? While he’s been known for his punch out power – Verlander has averaged more than a strikeout per inning in his career to date – it’s his control and ability to induce weak contact from hitters that has been most effective. Verlander’s 1.6 walks per nine innings is fourth best in the majors, and he has used his fastball half the time – down from around 60% in recent years – to allow his slider and curveball to force his opponents to generate power themselves.
As good as Verlander was until injuries threatened to end his career short – he went 16-9 with a 2.52 ERA in 2018, and 21-6 and an ERA of 2.58 in 2019 – the Astros were understandably cautious to commit too much of their payroll to him, after paying the veteran $66m over the past two seasons to essentially rehab from injury.
But after Thursday’s gem took Verlander to 130 innings pitched, a player option for next season was triggered, meaning the Astros will have their ace back in 2023 for a bargain price, by MLB standards, of $25m.
Barring a major injury, we may well be back here in a year’s time marveling over even more of Verlander’s historic feats as a 40-year-old. Until then, the Virginia native has completely destroyed his fellow 39-year-old compatriots. Of the 75 pitchers in MLB-history to have pitched at least 130 innings in their age-39 season, Verlander is in another league of his own.
No other pitcher has an ERA under two at the same age, albeit Verlander has so far pitched less than half the 268.1 innings Eddie Plank notched in 1915, who is closest with a 2.08 ERA. In the 21st century, an era when pitch and innings counts are more strictly implemented and adhered to, fellow future Hall-of-Famer Adam Wainwright of the St Louis Cardinals is closest, who put up a 3.05 ERA in 206.1 innings last season, a spectacular campaign in its own right. If not for Verlander’s astonishing numbers, it might well be Wainwright, who’s again having a great season at 40, that the baseball community would have been fawning over.
If Verlander does indeed win his third Cy Young award, his 240 career wins and counting, his MVP season in 2011 (that also included a triple crown), and his World Series ring in 2017, mean he will certainly rank among the best pitchers ever to grace a baseball field. But until he hangs up his cleats, and it may be a few more years until he does, the baseball world will have to invent new superlatives to describe just how extraordinary Justin Verlander is.
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Justin Verlander's Performance and Achievements
Justin Verlander, a veteran pitcher for the Houston Astros, has been delivering exceptional performances on the mound. In a recent game against the Cleveland Guardians, Verlander threw six shutout innings, further solidifying his reputation as a stellar pitcher [[SOURCE 1]].
Verlander's performance in the 2023 season has been outstanding. He currently holds the best ERA (earned run average) in the majors, with an impressive 1.73. Additionally, he has secured his 15th win of the season, making him a key contributor to the Astros' success [[SOURCE 1]].
Despite facing challenges in the previous two seasons due to an arm injury and Tommy John surgery, Verlander has made a remarkable comeback. His achievements at the age of 39 highlight his exceptional skills and the historic season he is having [[SOURCE 1]].
Verlander's Impact on the Houston Astros
As the ace of the Houston Astros' pitching staff, Verlander has played a significant role in the team's success. The Astros currently lead the American League (AL) in several major pitching categories, including ERA (earned run average), WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched), and opponents' batting average. Verlander's contributions have been instrumental in the Astros' battle with the New York Yankees for the AL's best record [[SOURCE 1]].
Verlander's exceptional performance has positioned him as the favorite to win his third American League Cy Young award. He has previously won the award in 2011 and 2019. If Verlander secures the award this year, he will join a select group of only 10 other pitchers who have won at least three Cy Young Awards in MLB history. Furthermore, winning the award at the age of 39 would make Verlander part of an even smaller group of pitchers who have achieved this feat at such a late age [[SOURCE 1]].
Verlander's Competition and Continued Success
One remarkable aspect of Verlander's performance is the youth of the pitchers closest to challenging him for the Cy Young award this year. Dylan Cease of the Chicago White Sox, Alek Manoah of the Toronto Blue Jays, and Shane McClanahan of the Tampa Bay Rays are all significantly younger than Verlander and have fewer starts under their belts. This highlights Verlander's longevity and the experience he has gained over his 17-season career [[SOURCE 1]].
Despite having pitched over 3,000 innings in his career, Verlander continues to achieve remarkable numbers. His success can be attributed to his control and ability to induce weak contact from hitters. Verlander's low walk rate of 1.6 walks per nine innings ranks among the best in the majors. He has also adjusted his pitch usage, relying less on his fastball and allowing his slider and curveball to generate weak contact from opponents [[SOURCE 1]].
Verlander's Future and Historical Feats
Verlander's recent performance has secured a player option for the 2023 season, meaning he will continue to pitch for the Astros at a relatively affordable price of $25 million. Barring any major injuries, Verlander's future looks promising, and he may continue to achieve historic feats as a 40-year-old pitcher [[SOURCE 1]].
In terms of historical comparisons, Verlander's performance at the age of 39 is unmatched. Among the 75 pitchers in MLB history who have pitched at least 130 innings in their age-39 season, Verlander stands out with an ERA under two. The closest pitcher to Verlander in terms of ERA at the same age is Eddie Plank, who achieved a 2.08 ERA in 1915. In the 21st century, Adam Wainwright of the St. Louis Cardinals comes closest to Verlander's performance, with a 3.05 ERA in 206.1 innings last season. Verlander's numbers are truly extraordinary, and he continues to leave a lasting impact on the baseball community [[SOURCE 1]].
In conclusion, Justin Verlander's performance and achievements in the 2023 season have been exceptional. As the ace of the Houston Astros' pitching staff, he has played a crucial role in the team's success. Verlander's remarkable numbers and historic feats at the age of 39 highlight his exceptional skills and longevity in the game of baseball.