Could the active win leader, Justin Verlander (40, Houston), reach the milestone of 300 career wins?
On the 17th, as per Korean time, Verlander started in an away game against Miami at LoanDepot Park, Florida. He allowed 5 runs in 5 innings but clinched his 8th win (6 losses) of the season with the support from the lineup.
Verlander, who transferred to the New York Mets this season, returned to his previous team, Houston, at the beginning of this month after the Major League trade deadline. Since then, he’s shown impeccable form, picking up 2 wins and 1 loss in 3 games.
The American sports network ESPN 메이저사이트 기준stated, “Before the game on the 17th, Verlander was tied with the legendary New York Yankees’ left-handed pitcher CC Sabathia (43, retired) and Bob Gibson (deceased) with 251 career MLB wins. However, with the win from the game, he surpassed Sabathia, setting a new target – the 300-win plateau.”
Max Scherzer (39), who was recently traded from the Mets to Texas, commented in an interview with MLB.com, “I believe Verlander can definitely achieve the 300-win record if he continues to stay healthy,” showing support for his former teammate.
Media outlets shared similar views with Scherzer, pointing out that “Verlander has 48 wins left to reach the 300-win summit. If he sets the record, it might be a long time before we see another pitcher achieve the same. He could possibly be the last pitcher in the league to 토토사이트 순위achieve 300 wins.”
During his time with the New York Mets, after achieving his 250th career win, Verlander told the New York Post, “I didn’t play baseball solely to set records. However, I’m satisfied and pleased with where I stand now. But, this isn’t something I achieved on my own. It was possible because of my teammates, coaching staff, and those around me,” he said, humbly.
Born in Virginia, Verlander was selected by Detroit in the first round (2nd overall) of the 2004 MLB amateur draft. Just a year later, in 2005, he made his Major League debut, and in 2006, he had a standout season with a 17-9 record and an ERA of 3.63, earning him the Rookie of the Year award.
Excluding 2015 (20 games, 5 wins), 2020 (1 game, 1 win), and 2021 (no appearances), Verlander consistently recorded double-digit wins every year. He’s been selected for the All-Star game 9 times, has 2 World Series titles, won the Cy Young award 3 times, pitched 3 no-hitters, and even secured the American League MVP in 2011.
By comparing Verlander’s stats with the current top players, one can understand his greatness even more.
With 252 wins, Verlander ranks 45th in all-time MLB wins. The next active pitcher is Zack Greinke (40, Kansas City) with 224 wins, ranking 68th – a difference of 28 wins from Verlander. Scherzer stands at 91st with 213 wins, while LA Dodgers’ ace Clayton Kershaw (35) is at 103rd with 208 wins.
Cy Young holds the top spot with 511 career wins, and there are only 24 pitchers who have exceeded 300 wins. To reach 300 wins, one needs to average 15 wins over 20 years, illustrating the magnitude of this accomplishment. The possibility of Verlander joining this elite group is a focal point for fans.