Justin Verlander, the seasoned ace of the San Francisco Giants and three-time Cy Young Award winner, has faced ongoing challenges during the 2024 MLB season following injury setbacks. The future Hall of Famer remains winless after 15 starts this year, recently taking his seventh loss in the series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Despite his struggles, Verlander’s brother, Ben, defended his performances on social media, emphasizing that the statistics do not reflect the quality of his outings. Ben highlighted Justin’s fastball velocity, which still reached nearly 97 mph in the game against the Phillies on Wednesday.
“I’m going to vent. Yes it’s my brother. Yes I’m biased. But Justin’s stats 100% do not tell the story of this season. He’s had many very good starts with truly some of the worst luck I’ve ever seen. It makes no sense to me. Really frustrating to watch. He’s still throwing 97mph with nasty offspeed. That’s the end of me venting. Thank you.”
—Ben Verlander, Brother and Analyst
Fans Discuss Paul Skenes’ Misfortune Alongside Verlander’s Challenges
Ben’s defense of Justin sparked a wave of fan responses, many drawing comparisons to Paul Skenes, a promising pitcher experiencing similar tough luck while playing with the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates. Fans noted that Skenes has endured his own share of difficulties this season despite his talent and effort.
“Hey he’s going to play in October at least. You look at Paul Skenes?”
—Fan on social media
“Your brother is one of the best pitchers of all time (in our era), 1st ballot HOF, all votes, you owe no apologies to anyone,”
—Fan supporting Justin Verlander
In contrast, some questioned Verlander’s choice to join the Giants in the offseason rather than staying with teams perceived to offer better chances at wins as his career winds down.
“He should have signed with Detroit, baseball karma,”
—Fan comment
“He should have stayed with the Astros if he cared about hitting a specific target for wins as his career is winding down. I’m not being rude, I love JV,”
—Another fan comment
Verlander Remains Positive Despite Heavy Defeat to Phillies
In the decisive 13-0 loss to the Phillies that prevented the Giants from avoiding a series sweep, Justin Verlander found some encouragement in his individual performance despite the team’s overwhelming defeat. He completed six innings, allowing two earned runs, seven hits, and recording seven strikeouts before exiting the game.
“That was the first time I kind of walked out of an outing and was like, ‘I feel like I can get some people out consistently with that stuff,’”
—Justin Verlander, Giants pitcher
The Giants’ bullpen faltered after Verlander’s departure, surrendering nine runs over the last two innings and sealing the lopsided loss.
Ongoing Uncertainty as Veteran Pitchers Face Career Challenges
The difficult season for Justin Verlander highlights the struggles veteran pitchers often encounter in the latter stages of their careers, where injuries and inconsistent team support can hinder performance. Meanwhile, Paul Skenes’ bad luck has stirred debate among fans observing the careers of rising talents battling adversity on less competitive teams.
This contrast between established stars fighting to maintain elite form and younger prospects weathering early career hardships underscores the unpredictable nature of pitching success in the MLB. Fans and analysts alike will continue watching how both Verlander and Skenes navigate these challenges as the season progresses.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did anyone pull the Paul Skenes?
A. The family first heard from Fanatics Collect on January 2. Nineteen days after that, Topps revealed an 11-year-old found the Skenes card in one hobby box.
Q. How does Livvy Dunne know Paul Skenes?
A. Famous gymnast Livvy Dunne and her boyfriend, MLB player Paul Skenes, are talking about their popular relationship. It all started when they were both attending Louisiana State University.
Q. How much did Paul Skenes get?
A. Paul Skenes progressed through the minor leagues and debuted in Major League Baseball in 2024. In 2023, he received a $9.2 million signing bonus. The following year, he agreed to a one-year deal with the Pirates, earning $740,000 before entering the arbitration process.