Justin Verlander
41-Year-Old
Out
Injury Shoulder
Est. Return 4/23/2024
2023 Stats
W-L
13-8
ERA
3.22
WHIP
1.13
K
144
SV
0
2024 Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Verlander was not as awesome as he was in 2022, but 2023 was still a solid season for the 40 year old pitcher who became the first pitcher age 40 or older to have both 12 wins and an ERA below 3.25 since Bartolo Colon last did that in 2013. Even though Verlander split the season between the Mets and the Astros, his indicators and outcomes were not that dissimilar as he walked fewer batters with Houston but allowed more homers thanks to the change in home park dimensions. The list of pitchers doing well past the age of 40 also includes the likes of Clemens, Johnson, Smoltz, and Ryan. Smoltz faded at age 41 while Johnson and Clemens had their last good seasons at 42. Verlander turns 41 before the start of the season and even has a player option he can exercise for 2025 if he reaches 140 innings in 2024. You should anticipate statistical decline as Verlander continue to age like a fine wine while also considering 2024 may be the final year we see this future Hall of Famer pitch. Read Past Outlooks
Facing hitters imminently
Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that Verlander will face hitters "in the next day or two," Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
The veteran right-hander threw another bullpen session Sunday and is poised for his first live batting practice session since he developed a shoulder issue. Verlander is expected to need multiple live BP sessions before being cleared to pitch in games, and it's not clear whether that will happen before the Grapefruit League schedule runs out. The Astros haven't divulged a timetable for Verlander's season debut, but he would seem to be tracking toward a return in late April or early May.
The veteran right-hander threw another bullpen session Sunday and is poised for his first live batting practice session since he developed a shoulder issue. Verlander is expected to need multiple live BP sessions before being cleared to pitch in games, and it's not clear whether that will happen before the Grapefruit League schedule runs out. The Astros haven't divulged a timetable for Verlander's season debut, but he would seem to be tracking toward a return in late April or early May.
Pitching Stats
Loading Pitching Stats...
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2023 MLB Game Log
Loading Pitching Game Log...
Minor League Game Log
Calculate Stats Over Time
Just click on any two dates.
Loading Minor League Pitching Game Log...
Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
96
Last 10 Games
94
Last 5 Games
93
How many pitches does Justin Verlander generally throw?
1-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-70
71-80
81-90
91-100
101-110
111-120
121+
What part of the game does Justin Verlander generally pitch?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2021
-16%
BAA vs LHP
2023
-10%
BAA vs LHP
BAA | K | BB | H | HR | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Since 2021vs Left | .187 | 171 | 35 | 111 | 9 | |||
Since 2021vs Right | .223 | 158 | 39 | 144 | 21 | |||
2023vs Left | .214 | 68 | 18 | 60 | 5 | |||
2023vs Right | .237 | 76 | 27 | 79 | 13 | |||
2022vs Left | .163 | 103 | 17 | 51 | 4 | |||
2022vs Right | .208 | 82 | 12 | 65 | 8 | |||
2021vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
2021vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
More Splits→ | View More Split Stats |
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2021
-2%
ERA at Home
2023
-1%
ERA on Road
ERA | WHIP | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Since 2021Home | 2.43 | 0.98 | 174.1 | 9.9 | 1.6 | ||||
Since 2021Away | 2.48 | 0.98 | 163.0 | 7.6 | 2.4 | ||||
2023Home | 3.23 | 1.08 | 86.1 | 8.5 | 2.0 | ||||
2023Away | 3.20 | 1.20 | 76.0 | 7.3 | 3.1 | ||||
2022Home | 1.64 | 0.88 | 88.0 | 11.1 | 1.2 | ||||
2022Away | 1.86 | 0.78 | 87.0 | 7.9 | 1.8 | ||||
2021Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
2021Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
More Splits→ | View More Split Stats |
Stat Review
How does Justin Verlander compare to other starting pitchers?
This section compares his stats with all starting pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 120 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
K/BB
3.20K/9
8.0BB/9
2.5HR/9
1.0Fastball
94.4 mphERA
3.22WHIP
1.13BABIP
.278GB/FB
0.90Left On Base
76.2%Exit Velocity
83.0 mphBarrels/BBE
4.6%Spin Rate
2473 rpmBalls Hit 95+ MPH
23.4%Swinging Strike
10.4%Advanced Pitching Stats
Loading Advanced Pitching Stats...
Defensive Stats
Loading MLB Defensive Stats...
Stats Vs Today's Lineup
Want more matchup stats?
Loading Matchup Stats...
Our full team depth charts are reserved for RotoWire subscribers.
Subscribe Now
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Justin Verlander See More
Todd Zola considers the impact of extra rest on starting pitchers and wonders if the Orioles will treat Corbin Burnes with the same care that the Brewers did.
Ronald Acuna holds onto the top spot in the RotoWire Roundtable despite his knee scare, but there's plenty of movement behind him.
The American League West features perhaps the biggest battle of all this spring: Wyatt Langford's quest to make the Rangers' Opening Day roster.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in October of 2020, Verlander missed all of 2021. Most tempered expectations, citing no one this late in his career has come back from the procedure to immediately regain previous form. A few suggested if anyone could do it, it was Verlander. They were right. At 39, Verlander captured his third Cy Young award, posting a 1.75 ERA over 175 frames. He benefited from a .240 BABIP and 80.5% LOB mark, but Verlander's 23.4 K-BB% ranked eighth among qualified pitchers and a 2.49 FIP, 3.23 xFIP and 3.09 SIERA are representative of an outstanding campaign. However, they also portend an ERA correction. It's hard not to give Verlander SP1 status. It's also fair to be leery of a repeat. The early market comes with an injury discount, but it still boils down to your risk aversion and willingness to invest in a 40-year-old as your staff anchor. His team context remains strong after he agreed to a two-year pact with the Mets this winter.
More Fantasy News
Should face hitters next
Astros manager Joe Espada said Verlander (shoulder) will throw a light bullpen session Sunday, and if that goes well, the right-hander will advance to throwing live batting practice, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Close to facing hitters
Verlander (shoulder) bounced back well from a bullpen session Thursday and said Friday that he's "definitely getting close to facing hitters," Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Ups throwing intensity Friday
Verlander (shoulder) said he ramped up his throwing intensity during a 60-pitch bullpen session Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Will begin season on injured list
Astros manager Joe Espada said Tuesday that Verlander (shoulder) will begin the season on the injured list, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Completes bullpen session
Verlander (shoulder) threw a 60-pitch bullpen session Sunday that appeared to include some breaking balls, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.