Verlander gave up two runs on two hits and six walks over 4.2 innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals. He struck out three.
The 2022 AL Cy Young Award winner came into the game with zero walks in 11.1 spring innings, not to mention 16 strikeouts, so Verlander can probably get a mulligan on this one. The Mets aren't expecting him to repeat last season's incredible 1.75 ERA and 0.83 WHIP, but after handing him a two-year, $87 million contract in the offseason, the team is counting on him to pitch like an ace and hopefully win at least 15 games for the 13th time in his Hall of Fame career.
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Mets' Justin Verlander: Fans eight Cards
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Verlander gave up only one hit over five scoreless innings while striking out eight in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.
The right-hander fired 51 of 71 pitches for strikes as he continues a dominant spring. Verlander has a dazzling 16:0 K:BB through 11.1 innings in Grapefruit League action, and the 2022 AL Cy Young Award winner appears more than ready for the beginning of the regular season. Mets manager Buck Showalter has yet to announce whether Verlander or Max Scherzer will get the Opening Day start, but there's no wrong answer between the two aces.
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Mets' Justin Verlander: Will face Houston on Friday
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Verlander will make his next Grapefruit League start Friday against the Astros, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Verlander's second spring start will come against his former team. The right-hander made his Grapefruit League debut with the Mets on Sunday, going three innings while allowing a run on two hits against the Marlins. Verlander won the Cy Young award during Houston's 2022 championship season on the strength of a 1.75 ERA and 185:29 K:BB over 175 regular-season frames.
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Mets' Justin Verlander: Looks good in spring debut
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Verlander gave up a run on two hits and struck out three in three innings during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.
Making his first appearance of the spring, Verlander fired 28 of 35 pitches for strikes and already looks just about ready for Opening Day. The 40-year-old won his third AL Cy Young Award last season with the Astros, and after signing a two-year, $87 million deal with the Mets this winter, the seemingly ageless ace might just take a run at the NL award in 2023.
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Mets' Justin Verlander: Making spring debut Saturday
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Verlander will start Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins, Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News reports.
It will be the first start for Verlander in a Mets' uniform. The right-hander signed a two-year, $86.66 million deal in December with a vesting option for 2025 after a dominant 2022 season where he posted a 1.75 ERA and 185:29 K:BB over 175 innings. The reigning Cy Young Award winner will pitch at the top of the Mets' rotation, and once again should be a fantasy stalwart during the 2023 campaign.
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Mets' Justin Verlander: Officially lands with Mets
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Verlander's signing of a two-year, $86.66 million contract with the Mets was formally announced by the team Wednesday.
The deal was reported Monday and has now been officially announced by the team. It includes a full no-trade clause and contains a $35 million vesting option for 2025 should Verlander pitch at least 140 innings in 2024. The reigning American League Cy Young winner is headed to the National League for the first time and will serve as Jacob de Grom's de facto replacement at the top of New York's rotation.
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Mets' Justin Verlander: Links up with Mets
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Verlander and the Mets agreed Monday on a two-year, $86.66 million contract, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. The contract includes a full no-trade clause and a $35 million vesting option for the 2025 season if he pitches at least 140 innings in 2024, according to Heyman.
After letting ace Jacob deGrom walk in free agency on a five-year, $185 million deal with the Rangers, the Mets secured about as strong of a replacement at the top of the rotation as they could have in Verlander, who took home his third Cy Young Award in 2022. Though he'll be turning 40 years old in February and missed the entire 2021 campaign while recovering from Tommy John surgery, Verlander demonstrated that he's still one of the game's elite starters by posting an 18-4 record, 1.75 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 185:29 K:BB in 175 innings this past season. The move from the reigning World Series champions to another team with title aspirations in the Mets shouldn't hurt Verlander too much from a wins standpoint, nor should the change in home ballpark from Minute Maid Park to Citi Field hinder his ratios. Expect Verlander to be one of the first pitchers off the board in 2023 fantasy drafts.
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Justin Verlander: Wins third AL Cy Young Award
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Verlander was unanimously voted as the American League Cy Young Award winner on Wednesday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports
The future Hall of Famer finished the season with an incredible 1.75 ERA and 0.83 WHIP across 175 innings, securing the third Cy Young Award of his career (2011, 2019) in a unanimous decision. Though Verlander, a free agent, will turn 40 before the start of next season, he has shown no signs of slowing down and figures to have no trouble attracting lucrative offers on the open market.
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Justin Verlander: Entering free agency
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Verlander declined his $25 million player option for 2023 on Thursday and became a free agent, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
After he missed the entire 2021 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, Verlander re-signed with the Astros last November on a one-year, $25 million deal that contained a conditional $25 million player option for 2023 if he tossed at least 130 innings in 2022. Not only did Verlander blow past that mark by covering 175 frames, but he finished the campaign as the odds-on favorite for the American League Cy Young Award by going 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 185:29 K:BB. Though he'll be entering his age-40 season in 2023, Verlander has shown no signs of slowing down and shouldn't have much trouble securing a multi-year deal in free agency at well above the $25 million annual salary he would have due had he exercised his option. Given the great success Verlander has enjoyed since arriving in Houston in an August 2017 trade with the Tigers, expect the Astros to do everything they can to retain their ace this offseason.
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Astros' Justin Verlander: Battles for win in Game 5
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Verlander pitched five innings and earned the win during Thursday's 3-2 victory over the Phillies in Game 5 of the World Series, allowing one run on four hits and four walks while striking out six.
Verlander surrendered a leadoff homer to Kyle Schwarber in the first inning and seven more Phillies reached base in the first three frames, but he was able to work out of multiple jams without allowing another run. Pitching in his 17th season, Verlander recorded his first World Series win on the mound Thursday night. The righty has struggled to a 5.85 ERA over 20 innings in this postseason, but one more Houston victory would give him his second World Series ring.
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Astros' Justin Verlander: Allows five runs in Game 1
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Verlander pitched five innings and did not factor into the decision Friday night in Game 1 of the World Series, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five in a 6-5 loss to the Phillies.
Verlander was given a five-run advantage by the Houston offense, but he surrendered six hits and five runs in his last two innings and was unable to keep the lead. After three perfect innings to begin the game, the 39-year-old seemed on his way to another gem before the Phillies broke through and made consistent hard contact. Coming into the World Series with a 10-1 record and 1.64 ERA at home during the 2022 regular season, Verlander was expected to give the Astros a great chance at taking an early lead in the series. Instead, he has now given up five runs or more in two of his three playoff starts, a slightly alarming trend for the future Hall of Famer.
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Astros' Justin Verlander: Stellar performance in Game 1
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Verlander earned the win during Game 1 of the ALCS on Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out 11 over six innings in the 4-2 victory over the Yankees.
Verlander delivered a vintage performance Wednesday night, keeping the dangerous New York lineup in check for six strong innings. The Yankees had runners on second and third with one out in the third inning, but Verlander was able to strike out Josh Donaldson and Matt Carpenter to keep the game tied. The 39-year-old then retired the next nine batters, delivering a crucial bounce-back performance after allowing six runs to the Mariners in his previous outing. The 11 strikeouts were the most in a postseason game for Verlander since he recorded 13 against the Yankees in the 2017 ALCS.
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Astros' Justin Verlander: Confirmed as Game 1 starter
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Verlander will start Game 1 of the ALDS against the Mariners or Blue Jays on Tuesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
There was little doubt Verlander would earn the honor, as he rebounded from Tommy John surgery to record a 1.75 ERA in 28 starts this season, likely earning him a Cy Young. His 3.40 lifetime ERA in the postseason doesn't trail his career 3.24 regular-season ERA by much, though he owns a mediocre 4.27 ERA over his last nine playoff starts dating back to 2018.
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Astros' Justin Verlander: Throws five no-hit innings
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Verlander (18-4) threw five no-hit innings to earn the win Tuesday over the Phillies. He struck out 10 and walked one.
The Astros didn't push Verlander very far in a game that had no impact on the regular season. He exited after 77 pitches (51 strikes) in another sharp start to put a bow on his excellent regular season. The 39-year-old finishes with a 1.75 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 185:29 K:BB through 175 innings over 28 starts, and he'll likely be back on the mound for Game 1 of the ALDS in a week.
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Astros' Justin Verlander: Allows run, fans eight
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Verlander did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits with one walk over seven innings against the Diamondbacks. He struck out eight.
It was a bit of a rocky beginning for Verlander, who gave up three hits in a row to start the first inning, including a leadoff double from Daulton Varsho. Both runs against Verlander scored in the frame, though one was unearned due to a passed ball. The right-hander then retired 18 of the next 23 batters he faced, though he did hit a batter to lead off the seventh. Verlander has not allowed a home run since July 23 and holds a 1.68 ERA in nine starts over that span, with 58 strikeouts and seven walks over 53.2 innings.
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Astros' Justin Verlander: Records loss during quality start
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Verlander (17-4) took the loss Thursday, allowing two runs on six hits over six innings in a 2-0 loss against the Orioles. He struck out four without walking a batter.
Verlander surrendered a two-run single to Rougned Odor with two outs in the second inning and did not receive any help from his offense. The loss was the right-hander's first since June 18 -- in 13 starts since, he's posted a 1.34 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 86:12 K:BB through 80.2 innings.
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Astros' Justin Verlander: Punches out nine in return
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Verlander (17-3) allowed no hits and one walk while striking out nine across five scoreless innings to earn the win Friday against the Athletics.
Verlander made his first start in nearly three weeks but showed no signs of rust. He dominated the weak Athletics lineup, racking up 12 swinging strikes on 79 total pitches to help him account for nine of his 15 outs via the strikeout. Spanning back to Aug. 23, Verlander has now turned in three consecutive scoreless starts spanning 14 innings. In that same span, he has a dominant 25:2 K:BB. For the season, Verlander owns a a 1.78 ERA and 0.83 WHIP across 157 frames.
Verlander (calf) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list ahead of Friday's start against the Athletics, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Verlander has been on the injured list with a calf injury since Aug. 30, but he began a throwing program nearly two weeks ago and is ready to return. The right-hander felt good after throwing a bullpen session this week, but it's not yet clear whether he'll face any workload restrictions in the home start against Oakland. Hunter Brown should move to the bullpen now that Verlander is healthy, while Seth Martinez was sent down Friday.
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Astros' Justin Verlander: Eyeing Friday return
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Astros manager Dusty Baker said Verlander (calf) is in line to return from the 15-day injured list to start Friday against the Athletics, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports.
Verlander hasn't yet been confirmed to rejoin the rotation Friday, as the Astros will presumably want to see how he feels following his most recent throwing session before officially signing off on his return. Even if Verlander isn't locked in to start Friday, he looks to be trending toward slotting back into the rotation at some point this weekend, barring any major setbacks with his right calf. Rookie Hunter Brown is expected to move to the bullpen to open up a spot in the six-man rotation for Verlander, who has been on the shelf since Aug. 30.
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Astros' Justin Verlander: Eyeing return next weekend
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Verlander (calf) is hoping to return to from the 15-day injured list to make a start during next weekend's series with the Athletics, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Verlander won't be activated Tuesday when first eligible, but he threw his second bullpen session Sunday since landing on the injured list and felt fine afterward. He could throw again Tuesday or Wednesday -- either against hitters or in another bullpen session -- as one final test of his health before the Astros sign off on his return from the IL. If Verlander is in fact activated at some point next weekend, he could face a limited pitch count in his return to the rotation.
