Without a doubt, Justin Verlander was one of the most dominant pitchers of his era. A regular American League All-Star during his prime, he earned three AL Cy Young Awards and secured two World Series titles in the latter part of his career with the Houston Astros. Sadly, it looks like his incredible journey is nearing its end this season.
Verlander just doesn’t seem to have it anymore.
Justin Verlander tonight against the Angels: 4.2 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 86 pitches, 60 strikes, 40 swings, 8 whiffs. His ERA is 5.55. Verlander exited to a standing ovation from the Minute Maid Park crowd. He tapped his chest to acknowledge it.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) September 21, 2024
In his most recent outing against the division rival Los Angeles Angels, Verlander struggled, lasting only 4.2 innings and giving up six earned runs on eight hits. While he did strike out four batters, his night ended after just 86 pitches.
A candid Justin Verlander said he probably came back too quickly from his neck injury but wanted to pitch down the stretch. He admits he's not where he needs to be and understands the Astros have tough decisions ahead.
He intends to make his final start next week.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) September 21, 2024
His season ERA now sits at 5.55, the worst of his career, making it hard to imagine him being included on the Astros’ postseason roster. Verlander himself likely realizes this.
When he left the mound Friday night at Minute Maid Park, the crowd gave him a standing ovation.
Verlander acknowledged that he might have returned from his neck injury too soon. Although he plans to make one final start next week, it could very well be the last of his illustrious career.
Justin Verlander probably knows he only has one start left in him
When we reflect on Justin Verlander’s nearly two-decade-long career, three key moments will stand out: his meteoric rise to superstardom in the mid-2000s with the Detroit Tigers, his sustained dominance on the mound for the better part of 15 years, and, unfortunately, his postseason struggles both with Detroit and Houston. Verlander gave everything he had to his teams.
In an era where it’s becoming increasingly difficult for starting pitchers to accumulate Hall of Fame-worthy stats, we rely more on the eye test. In any given MLB season, there are around 10 active Hall of Fame players, and right now, most of them are starting pitchers. Verlander, along with Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer, are three of the most obvious candidates.
Simply put, you know a Hall of Famer when you see one, especially with starting pitchers who command the mound every fifth day. Verlander’s Triple Crown and AL MVP season in 2011 likely cemented his place in Cooperstown, but the overall body of work he maintained throughout his 20s, 30s, and into his early 40s is undeniably impressive. Sadly, he is no longer the pitcher he once was.
For now, we must appreciate how fortunate we were to witness Verlander’s remarkable career and all that he accomplished.
