Justin Verlander, a name synonymous with pitching excellence for over a decade, is facing a challenging chapter in his illustrious career. After signing with the San Francisco Giants, Verlander's performance has been far from stellar, raising questions about his future in the league and his pursuit of 300 career wins.
The veteran pitcher entered the season with the ambitious goal of reaching 300 wins, needing 38 to reach the milestone. However, at 42 years old, and after a disappointing start to the season, that goal seems increasingly distant.
A Winless Streak and Diminishing Returns
Verlander's struggles are evident in his winless record through his first 13 starts for the Giants, marking the longest such streak for a Giants pitcher in recent history. While he hasn't been pitching terribly, his adjusted ERA is only slightly below the league average. A strained right pec sidelined him for a significant portion of the season, further disrupting his rhythm.
Despite the setbacks, Verlander remains optimistic. "I feel like I kind of found something mechanically," he said recently. "I’m hopeful it’s going to allow me to pitch the way I feel I still can. I’m still throwing 94-95 pretty consistently. I know that’s good enough to have success. I just need to find a way to make it click. That’s what I’ve been searching for."
Numbers Tell a Different Story
However, Verlander's statistics paint a less encouraging picture. His average fastball velocity is below league average, and his strikeout rate is in the lower percentile. His expected ERA is also higher than his actual ERA, suggesting potential regression.
Can Verlander Turn Things Around?
The question remains: can Verlander make the necessary adjustments to regain his form, or is he simply an aging pitcher clinging to a fading career? He's faced some of the league's weaker teams and still hasn't secured a win. Only time will tell if Verlander can overcome these challenges and continue his Hall of Fame career.
Even Buster Posey acknowledged that the decision to sign Verlander was based on his gut feeling after listening to Verlander's voice and sensing the motivation to continue pitching at a high level. Whether that intuition will pay off remains to be seen.