RADIO
Justin Verlander In Position To Anchor Astros Staff
7 years agoWhen Houston Astros starter Justin Verlander was traded from Detroit last August, he unequivocally became the ace of the Houston staff. He won all five of his Houston starts during the regular season, allowing only four runs while going 5-0 with a 1.08 ERA. His dominance didn't stop there as he would take his hot streak into the postseason, going 4-1 with a 2.21 ERA. Verlander's resurgance didn't just start with a change of scenery but began after the All Star break. He was unhittable in the second half of the season, going 10-2 with a 1.95 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 101 1/3 innings. He allowed only 62 hits during that span, rediscovering the pop on his fastball and re-ascending to one of the best pitchers in the game. SInce his rocky season in 2014, Verlander again appears to be at the top of his game. The Astros offense again will be one of the most lethal in the game and run support should not be a problem for the veteran right-hander. Age will eventually catch up to Verlander but he should continue to have plenty of success this season. His ERA should see a small increase but should be able to win 14-18 games and has a strong shot at another 200 strikeout season.
Source: Houston Astros
Source: Houston Astros
