Justin Verlander, in his 19th Major League Baseball season at age 41, has a keen sense of when he’s pitching well and when he’s not. On Monday, it was evident he wasn’t at his best. His AL West-leading Houston Astros fell 5-3 to the Cincinnati Reds, with Verlander contributing to an early deficit. He loaded the bases in the first inning, leading to a sacrifice fly by TJ Friedl and a base hit from Ty France, which put the Reds ahead 2-0.
“I was all over the place in that first inning,” Verlander admitted to reporters post-game. “My mechanics were off, and my location was poor. I made a few decent pitches that weren’t called, but it’s tough to get calls when you’re inconsistent.”
Typically, pitchers don’t often blame themselves for missed calls, but Verlander’s assessment was accurate—umpires generally don’t favor pitchers struggling with control.
Justin Verlander did manage to settle down, keeping Cincinnati scoreless through the second, third, and fourth innings, which allowed the Houston offense to level the game. However, his performance unraveled in the fifth inning, when Santiago Espinal’s pop fly fell between three Houston fielders, leading to two runs. Amed Rosario later drove in Espinal, pushing the score to 5-2.
Verlander’s final stats were 4.2 innings pitched, 5 runs allowed, 8 hits, 4 walks, and 3 strikeouts. It was another challenging outing for the future Hall of Famer, who has struggled with consistency after being sidelined for over two months due to an injury.
“I felt the last few innings, especially the last couple, were much better,” Verlander said. “But that fifth inning was tough to swallow.”
Verlander understands the difficulty of regaining form midseason. He’s not only facing live hitters in crucial games but also competing against players who are in peak regular-season form.
“I’m trying to be realistic with myself, knowing I’ve been out for a while,” Verlander explained, according to Jeff Wallner of MLB.com. “Spring Training is meant for working out the kinks. It’s challenging to do that during the season, especially when hitters are at their best and I’m still adjusting.”
Accustomed to being the ace, Verlander’s current struggles are a stark contrast to his performance just two years ago, when he posted a career-best 1.75 ERA and won another Cy Young Award along with a second World Series title with the Astros.
“I’m not very patient,” Verlander noted. “It’s hard for me to not overdo it. I know when I’m right on the mound, and I’m constantly striving to reach that level. It’s been tough, with many sleepless nights. That’s why I’m trying to be more forgiving with myself than usual.”
Despite these struggles, the Astros are poised for the playoffs, and Verlander remains a crucial part of their postseason plans. With a career 3.58 postseason ERA, two World Series rings, and a 2017 ALCS MVP award, he has the potential to contribute significantly if he can return to his former self.