Detroit Tigers Roster Preview: Justin Verlander
Feb 28, 2015; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) poses during Photo day at Joker Merchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Quick hits
Name: Justin Verlander
Age: 32
Position: Starting Pitcher
Salary: $20 million
Height: 6’ 5”
Twitter handle: @JustinVerlander
How the Detroit Tigers got him: Detroit Tigers first round pick in the 2004 amateur draft, 2nd overall.
We have made it into our starting rotation of pitchers in our 2015 Detroit Tigers roster review. Again, we won’t really be going in any certain order, we will more than likely try to go in some sort of or you know, just throw random starters at you guys, who knows it is still a young month.
2014 season recap
Well, Justin Verlander didn’t really have the best season for the Detroit Tigers. He finished the season with a 15-12 record with a career high 4.54 ERA. Before the season started Verlander had core muscle surgery and while he was expected to miss sometime, he was ready to go by spring training and was scheduled as the opening day start for the seventh consecutive season.
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His first half didn’t go well for Verlander, but the second half picked up for the 32 year-old pitcher. He finished the season with 159 strikeouts along with a 6.9 K/9 IP rate. He only walked 65 batters which was a decrease from last season. Verlander also ended the 2014 season with a 1.398 WHIP and finally got something Verlander has been trying to get since he became a major league pitcher, a hit. In fact he got two hits in the season and hit a cool .063 batting average.
2014-2015 Season Potential
Coming into the spring training Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said that Verlander was throwing very well and from early games it looks like he is back to being at least productive again. Many think we will see a little different Verlander; in he won’t have his high-speed pitch anymore, but will have more pitches and better stuff. We will see him be a dominate pitcher for the Tigers once again this season.
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Look he probably won’t be super flashy, but he will more than likely get guys out and that will be the key for him. I would like to see him go until the 6th and 7th inning and rack up the strikeouts like he has in the past. I don’t care if he throws 99 and 100 mph, in fact I don’t want him to, I just want to see him get guys out and help the team win, which I think he will do this season.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Weaknesses
His two prior seasons haven’t been the best and it is worrisome that this could be his decline which at the age of 32 would be highly unlucky. However, with the surgery last season, last season could be chalked up to recovering from the core injury which can really hurt a pitcher.
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Really since the 2013 season Verlander has been inconsistent at times and if he has another season of that, it should bring the team some worry a little bit. It is really the one thing I have against Verlander is that the past two seasons he has seemed at times really good then goes to being less than stellar and then repeats.
Strengths
He is Justin Verlander, yeah he has had a few off seasons, but he still manages to pitch pretty well and help the Tigers win in tight spots. He can still strike guys out and doesn’t walk many which again are great from a starting pitcher. You can’t really count this guy out for having a good come back season.
If anything he is good to have around for the younger pitchers on the team. Like in the ways having Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez are good for younger hitters, having Verlander on the team can only be good for the young or new pitchers on the team.
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This is a tricky one; he is listed as the second starter on the Tigers official website. However it seems odd that Ausmus would start David Price over Verlander but he could easily be the opening day starter then the two would switch after. However, honestly it seems like he will be the second in the rotation, but also keep an eye on that for it could easily change.
Fast fun fact
Here is a two for one; Verlander’s little brother Ben is also in the Tigers organization and the two played in a spring training game together last week. Justin is also dating Michigan native and super model Kate Upton.
So what do you think this season holds for the face of Tigers pitching in the last ten years? Will Justin Verlander be a productive pitcher and have a bounce back season? Let us know below and don’t forget to stay connected to Detroit Jock City for all your Detroit Tigers news this season.
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