Since a rough outing against the Chicago White Sox on June 18, Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander has been virtually untouchable. That continued on Saturday afternoon in a game against the Seattle Mariners, who had been baseball’s hottest team before the All-Star Break.
Verlander was nearly untouchable in Seattle. He went seven innings, allowing one run on four hits with two walks and nine strikeouts. He also picked up the win, moving his record to 13-3 on the season.
Verlander is 39, an age where most pitchers are retired. If they are still pitching, it’s usually a much more control-based style as opposed to power. But Verlander’s fastball is still overpowering.
Justin Verlander, 97mph on his 101st pitch.
And is Fired up. Inject this into my veins. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/cThY0066OG
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 23, 2022
And that wasn’t a one-time thing, either. Verlander had a strong fastball working throughout the game, nearly hitting 100 MPH on multiple occasions.
Justin Verlander, Elevated 99mph Heat. 😳 pic.twitter.com/dXwSux5n8V
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 23, 2022
Verlander at 99.3 mph on consecutive pitches.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) July 23, 2022
It wasn’t just power for Verlander, either. His breaking ball was just as effective.
Justin Verlander, Knee-buckling 80mph Curveball. 🦵 pic.twitter.com/ETViNTBpG1
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 23, 2022
The MLB world reacted strongly to Verlander’s dominant outing.
The Astros won 3-1. They are 63-32.
Justin Verlander morphed into a man possessed.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) July 23, 2022
Justin Verlander through 18 starts
2011 (Age 28)
12-3
135.2 IP
2.32 ERA
130 SOJustin Verlander through 18 starts
2022 (Age 39)
13-3
116.1 IP
1.86 ERA
117 SO— Chris Castellani (@Castellani2014) July 23, 2022
Justin Verlander is still that dude.
— Michael Connor (@MC790) July 23, 2022
I’m 35. It takes everything I have to not fart when attempting a sit up.
Verlander is damn near 40 and is casually humming it at 99mph.
— Josh Innes (@JoshInnesShow) July 23, 2022
Justin Verlander makes me want to have old man Tommy John.
— Anthony Castrovince (@castrovince) July 23, 2022
Verlander gassing dudes at 99 in the 7th inning at age 39 one year removed from major elbow surgery is not human
— Jared Smith (@jaredleesmith) July 23, 2022
Since that outing against the White Sox, Verlander has a 0.79 ERA and 0.853 WHIP with 36 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched. He’s also won all five outings. In the three outings before that start, he had a 0.86 ERA, 0.762 WHIP with 23 strikeouts in 21 innings and a 2-0 record.
So, Verlander is having a great year and is showing no signs of fading as we head into the dog days of summer, which customarily is the hardest part of the year for pitchers — especially veterans. It’s no wonder why he’s a leading Cy Young Award contender in the American League.
