Starting Pitchers

Justin Verlander Scouting Report

Verlander has gone through a career resurgence since joining the Astros as the 2017 trade deadline. Thus far in 2018, he has been among the best pitchers in all of baseball, with dominating starts almost every time out. He faced the Rays just two weeks ago on the 19th as he worked 7 ²⁄₃ innings, striking out 10 and allowing a run on six hits.

His last start came on the 25th against the Blue Jays, where he again worked 7 ²⁄₃ innings in what was actually his worst — by the numbers — start of the season as he allowed, a season high, four earned runs on seven hits, two home runs, while he walked two and struck out six.

His pitch usage, per Brooks Baseball

In 2018, he has relied primarily on his Fourseam Fastball (95mph) and Slider (87mph), also mixing in a Curve (80mph). He also rarely throws a Change(88mph) and Cutter (92mph).

His fourseam fastball generates a high number of swings & misses compared to other pitchers’ fourseamers, has good “rising” action, results in somewhat more flyballs compared to other pitchers’ fourseamers, has slight armside run and has slightly above average velo. His slider results in somewhat more flyballs compared to other pitchers’ sliders. His curve has a sharp downward bite and results in somewhat more flyballs compared to other pitchers’ curves. His change is a real worm killer that generates an extreme number of groundballs compared to other pitchers’ changeups, has an obvious armside fade and is much firmer than usual. His cutter (take this with a grain of salt because he’s only thrown 8 of them in 2018) is basically never swung at and missed compared to other pitchers’ cutters, is an extreme flyball pitch compared to other pitchers’ cutters, has surprisingly little cutting action, has well above average velo and has good “rise”.

Starting Lineups