Verlander's incredible start puts pitcher on pace to break 75-year-old record
Justin Verlander was washed up.
He was 34 years old, and the Tigers were so desperate to get out of his mega-contract that they offered to pay $8 million of his $28 million salary for 2018.
They would pay that for him NOT to pitch for them.
Someone clearly forgot to tell the future Hall of Famer.
Verlander went to the Houston Astros and ended up helping them win their first World Series championship.
This season, he’s even better.
In fact, the 35-year old is on pace to accomplish something last done 75 years ago.
Prior to this season, Verlander’s best earned run average came during his remarkable 2011 season, when he won both the Cy Young and MVP awards.
That season, the ace went 24-5 and led the American League with a 2.40 ERA. That’s worth repeating — a league-leading 2.40 ERA.
Fast-forward to 2018, and in his last start, Verlander went six innings, giving up a single run. His ERA increased to 1.08.
We’ll assume that he won’t be able to keep it up, but still, through 11 starts, he is on pace to become the first 35-year-old to finish with a sub-2.00 ERA since Eddie Cicotte back in 1943, per CBS Sports.
If you’re wondering why Houston is the odds-on favorite to win it all again, consider that no AL pitcher since the great Pedro Martinez in 2000 has finished with an ERA below 2.00.
This season, Verlander, along with teammates Charlie Morton and Gerrit Cole, are all on pace to do so.
Oh, and did we mention that Verlander is also on pace for 295 strikeouts?
That shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Now here's that #trivia answer!
The only pitchers besides Verlander with 100+ strikeouts every year from 2006-17:
Cole Hamels
James ShieldsThanks for playing!
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) May 25, 2018
Entering the weekend, Houston has a three-game lead in the AL West.
Detroit, meanwhile, is seven games under .500.
And the Astros aren’t even paying Verlander’s full contract.
Advantage: Houston.
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