Justin Verlander’s name was back in the headlines recently, but not for the reasons fans would hope. The former Astros ace, long celebrated for his superhuman durability, is now showing unmistakable signs of wear. With his velocity dipping and whispers of arm fatigue circulating, the conversation has shifted from “how dominant can he be?” to “how much longer can he last?” For a pitcher whose legacy is built on overpowering hitters deep into games, that’s not just a stat line concern, it’s an identity crisis.
And yet, just as the baseball world collectively paused to consider Verlander’s mortality on the mound, his brother Ben Verlander casually steered the spotlight elsewhere, toward Tarik Skubal. On Flippin’ Bats, Ben dove into what he called a “fun comparison” between the Tigers’ left-hander Tarik Skubal and Justin’s legendary 2011 MVP season. The timing? Odd. The context? Debatable. The takeaway? A head-turning moment that raised more eyebrows than cheers.
You read that right.
Verlander and Skubal, Detroit’s flame-throwing lefty and recent $10.15 million man, who is enjoying a dominant stretch. Ben was quick to pull out the numbers: “Since the start of last season, Tarik Skubal: 260 and two-thirds innings, 23-6, a 2.42 ERA, and 11.04 strikeouts per nine,” he rattled off. Then came the pivot: “Justin’s 2011 MVP year? 251 innings, 24-5, 2.40 ERA, and 9k per nine. So, very close innings-wise… and Skubal’s strikeouts per nine? Higher.”
Here’s where things get sticky. Sure, Skubal is surging, flashing triple-digit heat and wiping out lineups with alarming ease. He even joined an exclusive club, becoming just the second starter since 2008 to throw 101.7+ mph in the seventh inning or later. The only other member? Yep, Justin Verlander, who did it nine times. Impressive? Absolutely. Equal footing? Let’s pump the brakes.
This isn’t about bashing Skubal; he’s been phenomenal and deserves every bit of praise. But putting him beside Verlander’s 2011, the season that redefined modern pitching, isn’t just premature. It’s distracting, especially when your brother is nursing an aging arm and trying to squeeze one more elite stretch out of a Hall of Fame career.
Yes, it’s fun to imagine the next Tigers great. And yes, Ben tried to soften the blow with lines like, “We’re not going to have a comparison of Justin Verlander versus Tarik Skubal yet.” But when you rattle off side-by-side numbers and follow up with “maybe a couple of years down the road…,” the implication lands loud and clear.
Verlander’s health may be shaky, but his legacy isn’t. And if Skubal wants to chase it, he’s got the stuff. But for now? Let the man heal. Let the legend breathe. And let the comparisons wait their turn.
Justin Verlander: A Legend at a Crossroads
Justin Verlander isn’t just another veteran trying to stretch out his final innings. He’s a three-time Cy Young winner, an MVP, and a future Hall of Famer still chasing greatness at 42. But on May 18, during a start against the Oakland Athletics, something was off. The radar gun didn’t lie, his first pitch came in at 90 mph. “I look up at the first pitch and it’s 90, 91. I’m like, ‘Oh, boy. Gonna be a tough day,” Verlander admitted, a rare moment of vulnerability from a pitcher known for dominating late into games.
By May 22, the Giants made it official: Verlander was headed to the 15-day injured list with nerve irritation in his right pectoral muscle. The announcement sparked concern not just in San Francisco but across the baseball world. This isn’t just any pitcher missing time. This is Justin Verlander, a man whose mere presence elevates rotations. Yet again, he’s facing the one opponent no one ever truly beats: time.
Still, don’t count him out just yet. Giants manager Bob Melvin offered a dose of optimism, stating, “He’ll end up missing two starts, and then I think everything will be good. He’s obviously not happy about it because he wants to make every start, but it was the prudent thing to do.” That frustration? It’s part of what’s made Verlander great for so long. He doesn’t sit back. He doesn’t coast. Even in the twilight of his career, he demands to compete.
So here we are watching one of the game’s most iconic arms walk a tightrope between legacy and longevity. Verlander’s start to the season (0-3 with a 4.33 ERA in 52 innings) isn’t the dominance fans remember, but if history’s any guide, he’s not done writing chapters just yet. The road back from a pectoral injury won’t be easy, but this isn’t Verlander’s first time navigating setbacks. And if he returns with the fire we’ve seen before, no one should be surprised.
Because for Verlander, every pitch still matters. And he’s not ready to throw in the towel, not yet.
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