Verlander continues otherwordly stretch
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Minutes after attaining another milestone in his storied career, Justin Verlander huddled with a few clubhouse attendants and other Astros personnel. He held the baseball from his 2,500th strikeout in his hands. The group discussed what would become of it.
“I had it authenticated,” Verlander said. “I’m probably going to have a calligrapher write ‘2,500 strikeouts’ so I can put it up on my mantle and know what it is.”
Problems like this, the worry of confusing careerdefining baseballs in a crowded awards case, exist in few realities. Verlander lives in one. His 2,500th strikeout during Wednesday’s 2-0 win over the Angels put with 32 other big leaguers who’ve accomplished the feat.
“His preparation is elite; his execution is really good,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “He’s got so many weapons for guys. He studies, he’s smart, he doesn’t cave, he doesn’t back down, he loves the moment, and he does it all in the same day.”
Since his trade to Houston last Aug. 31, Verlander has produced 10.66 strikeouts per nine innings. In 20 starts, he’s walked only 27 batters. Opponents bat .156 against him.
The Astros have won 16 of the 21 games in which he’s appeared. In two of the losses, his club did not score a run.
“We can’t take it for granted,” Hinch said. “No one’s perfect in this game, but when he’s pitching, everyone sits up straight, and everyone’s paying a little more attention. He’s a huge influence here.”
Verlander’s shutout of the Angels on Wednesday pared his ERA to 1.05, the lowest in the the majors. In May, he has yielded two earned runs in 29 innings.
“Out of spring training, my focus was to pay attention to the details, pay attention to the small details, and man, it’s paid off vastly,” Verlander said. “I’ve felt like I picked up right where I left off at the end of the year last year and I’m able to execute my pitches at will.”
Talk of the plan for the baseball notwithstanding, Verlander chose not to reminisce on Wednesday. He values longevity more than singular benchmarks. But he acknowledged he should probably do more reflection.
“I don’t know if 2,500 punchies is the one to do that,” Verlander said.
Wednesday’s win was the 193rd of his career. Only two active pitchers — CC Sabathia and Bartolo Colon — have 200. Verlander’s current pace suggests he’ll join them soon.
“I’m creeping up on 200 wins,” he said. “So maybe that’s an opportunity to sit down and think about the gravity of some things.”