in Game 1 of the ALCS, Justin Verlander becomes all-time strikeout leader in playoff during Astros victory over Yankees. Check it out here.
Justin Verlander : Strikeouts | Fangraphs | Stats
Justin Brooks Verlander is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB).
| Starting pitcher | |
| Born: February 20, 1983 Manakin-Sabot, Virginia |
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Bats: Right
Throws: Right
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| MLB debut | |
|---|---|
| July 4, 2005, for the Detroit Tigers |
He has also played in MLB for the Detroit Tigers. From Manakin-Sabot in Virginia, Verlander attended Old Dominion University (ODU) and played college baseball for the Monarchs.
He broke the Monarchs’ and Colonial Athletic Association’s career records for strikeouts.
At the 2003 Pan American Games, Verlander helped lead the United States national team to a silver medal.
Justin Verlander strikeouts
In one of his usual wild outings, Justin Verlander struck out 11 opponents and with a solid six-inning performance allowed back-to-back home runs by Yuli Gurriel and Chas McCormick in the sixth for the Houston Astros to beat the New York Yankees 4-2 in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.
The “Space City” team reached its sixth consecutive ALCS, looking to reach its fourth World Series, against the Bronx team that is in this instance for the first time since 2019, when the Astros ousted them.
The game turned out to be an interesting pitching duel in which, when Verlander settled in, he completely shut down the most dangerous offense in the Majors. In the sixth, Gurriel broke a one-run tie by connecting off reliever Clarke Schmidt. Two batters later, McCormick sent Schmidt’s sinker to right field to make it 3-1.
Verlander set a major league record with the eighth 10-plus strikeout game of the postseason, surpassing Clayton Kershaw. He also became the all-time leader in playoff strikeouts with 219.
If that wasn’t enough, the Astros starter struck out six straight opponents, tying another postseason record for the second time in his career, the previous being in Game 3 of the 2013 Championship Series while pitching for the Detroit Tigers
Fangraphs
Justin Verlander was the story, though, above the flirtation with another no-hitter. He started the game and was dominant through five innings, striking out 10 and walking one in those no-hit innings.
He had thrown 77 pitches and was pulled from the game because it was essentially meaningless and he’s getting ready for what the Astros hope is a deep playoff run. Also, he said after the game there was a cut on his hand and he didn’t want to make it worse (mlb.com).
Additionally, Verlander should have locked up his third Cy Young.
He ends the season 18-4 with a 1.75 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 185 strikeouts in 175 innings. He’ll end the season leading the AL in wins, winning percentage, ERA, and WHIP, among other categories.
Not only would it be his third Cy Young, but he also has an MVP and finished second place in Cy Young voting three times. His Hall of Fame resume keeps growing.
As for the run at a no-hitter, relievers Hunter Brown (2 1/3 innings) and Neris (2/3 innings) navigated the Phillies’ lineup through the eighth inning without allowing a hit. It was Garrett Stubbs leading off the ninth with a single against lefty Will Smith to break it up.
Bryce Harper and Darick Hall would follow with singles before Smith struck out three straight hitters to end the game
Stats
Verlander’s professional baseball career began when he was selected by the Detroit Tigers with the second overall pick in the 2004 MLB Draft.
He signed a contract on October 25, 2004. Verlander made his professional debut in 2005.
|
Year
|
Team
|
GP
|
W
|
L
|
Sv
|
ERA
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2022
|
HOU
|
28
|
18
|
4
|
0
|
1.75
|
|
2020
|
HOU
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
3.00
|
|
2019
|
HOU
|
34
|
21
|
6
|
0
|
2.58
|
|
2018
|
HOU
|
34
|
16
|
9
|
0
|
2.52
|
|
2017
|
HOU
|
5
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
1.06
|
|
2017
|
DET
|
28
|
10
|
8
|
0
|
3.82
|
|
2016
|
DET
|
34
|
16
|
9
|
0
|
3.04
|
|
2015
|
DET
|
20
|
5
|
8
|
0
|
3.38
|
|
2014
|
DET
|
32
|
15
|
12
|
0
|
4.54
|
|
2013
|
DET
|
34
|
13
|
12
|
0
|
3.46
|
|
2012
|
DET
|
33
|
17
|
8
|
0
|
2.64
|
|
2011
|
DET
|
34
|
24
|
5
|
0
|
2.40
|
|
2010
|
DET
|
33
|
18
|
9
|
0
|
3.37
|
|
2009
|
DET
|
35
|
19
|
9
|
0
|
3.45
|
|
2008
|
DET
|
33
|
11
|
17
|
0
|
4.84
|
In his final start of the regular season on October 4, Verlander authored a 10-strikeout, no-hit performance over 5 innings as Houston cruised to a 10–0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.
He passed Ferguson Jenkins and Scherzer again for 12th place on the all-time strikeout list and tied Jim Deshaies (1986) for an Astros franchise record of 8 consecutive strikeouts in the game.
Verlander concluded his 2022 campaign with an 18–4 record, 1.75 ERA, and 185 strikeouts in 175 innings pitched. He led all the Major Leagues in ERA, WHIP (0.829), and BAA (.186) while leading the American League in wins.
He won his first ERA title since his 2011 MVP campaign, also a career-best, and represented the lowest-qualified figure over a non-shortened season in the AL (excluding 2020) since Pedro Martinez’ 1.74 mark in 2000.