Justin Verlander Looks Vintage on the Mound in Win Over the Tigers

The Houston Astros have been struggling for the first month and a half of this season. However, 41-year-old starting pitcher Justin Verlander just turned back the clock in a vintage outage against his former team in the Detroit Tigers. Verlander helped the Astros gain their 15th win of the season as he pitched seven innings allowing just two hits, and two walks while striking out eight batters in a 9-3 win. Even in his 19th Major League season, the right-hander knows how to put on a show. 

This season through five starts, Verlander has a 2-1 record. Through 29 and one-third innings pitched; he’s allowed 11 runs on 23 hits while striking out 23. The 41-year-old right-hander’s vintage performance yesterday looked like one of his outings in one of his three Cy Young Award seasons. If he continues to turn back the clock, the Astros veteran may help this team get back into the playoff conversation after weeks and weeks of people worrying about whether the dynasty of the Astros has fallen off. 

Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson, who struck out twice against Verlander said, “He's on his way to Cooperstown for a reason. I thought we had a good plan heading into it, capitalize on mistakes, then realized early on there wasn't going to be very many mistakes to capitalize on.” Astros manager Joe Espada said, “That's what makes him so good. He's able to see things, feel things. He knows exactly what he needs to do and then goes out there and does what he did. That's why he's that good. That's a Hall of Famer.” Can the Astros get back into the playoff conversation?