Justin Verlander is one of the best pitchers the game has ever seen. But this season with the San Francisco Giants has been a huge disappointment, and last night’s start against the Toronto Blue Jays was no different. Verlander pitched only 2.2 innings, walking two batters and giving up four earned runs. He is 0-8 with a 4.99 ERA this year, and his wait to collect his first win will go further into the second half of the season.
Could Justin Verlander Be At the End Of the Road?
It sure seems like that can be the case. Verlander is no longer the dominant pitcher he was for the majority of his career with Detroit and Houston. With 16 starts under his belt and no wins, Verlander has passed Matt Cain’s mark of 15 consecutive starts without a win in Giants history. At 42 years old, it might be time to face the fact that Justin Verlander is on his last leg.
An alarming trend has occurred with Verlander as of late. In three starts in July, he’s pitched to a 9.26 ERA. In those three starts, he’s given up a total of 14 earned runs. None of the three starts he’s made have been competitive, either, against the Giants. They have been shut out twice and outscored 17-0 in that stretch. It’s not just Verlander not giving competitive starts, but the Giants as a team have not been competitive when he takes the mound.
What Do the Giants Do With Verlander?
The Giants have a legitimate question on their hands that they will have to answer soon. Is the rough start to July for Justin Verlander the beginning of the downfall of his career, or is it just a blip on the radar? Would the Giants consider moving Verlander at the trade deadline if he finishes the month looking good? A contender would take a gamble on Verlander, even at 42 years old.
The Giants are just 1.5 games out of the third wild card spot. Are they a better team with Verlander? At this point, the answer might be no. If they can move on from him and get someone else who can help them make a playoff push, they should at least consider it.
