ANAHEIM, Calif. — Although a face-off between Justin Verlander and Mike Trout might not have the allure it once did, Verlander’s 97.4 mph fastball that struck out Trout in the sixth inning showcased flashes of brilliance from the 42-year-old right-hander.
This performance indicated that Verlander still possesses notable skill. On Sunday, he conceded one run and two hits over six innings. He was on track to secure his first win with the San Francisco Giants, but the Los Angeles Angels rallied with four runs in the ninth, ultimately prevailing 5-4. Verlander recorded six strikeouts, reducing his ERA to 5.47.
“I feel like I’ve been moving in the right direction,” Verlander shared with the press. “It was good to offer a better opportunity for a win today.”
Securing what would have been his 263rd career victory was narrowly out of reach for the three-time Cy Young Award winner. This outing marked only the second instance in his last 14 starts where he pitched for six innings. Verlander joined the Giants under a $15 million, one-year deal before the current season began.
Sunday’s performance strongly suggested this could prove to be a valuable acquisition. Verlander became only the third pitcher in the past ten years to pitch at least six innings with two or fewer hits at the age of 42 or older — a feat previously achieved by Rich Hill and Bartolo Colon.
Trout’s record against Verlander stands at 5 for 45. On this occasion, Trout was struck out with a 96.2 mph fastball in the first inning, managed an eight-pitch walk in the fourth, and succumbed again to a blistering fastball in the sixth, Verlander’s fastest strikeout pitch since 2023.
“Verlander pitched excellently,” remarked manager Bob Melvin. “Faced a bit of a pitch count issue near the end but completed the six innings. Varied velocities on his fastball, efficiently used his slider when required, and mixed in some curveballs and changeups. He pitched admirably.”