Justin Verlander‘s pitching struggles deepened on Wednesday afternoon when the San Francisco Giants’ veteran right-hander took the loss in the series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oracle Park. This defeat marked Verlander’s seventh loss of the current <a href=”https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>MLB campaign, prolonging a troubling start to the season.
Though Verlander delivered a solid outing in terms of performance, the Giants’ offense failed to provide run support, and the bullpen allowed the Phillies to take control late. The game ended in a decisive 13-0 victory for Philadelphia, amplifying frustrations surrounding Verlander’s continued winless record this year.
Family Perspective: Brother Attributes Difficulties to Misfortune Rather Than Skill
Ben Verlander, Justin’s brother and an MLB analyst who hosts the Flippin’ Bats podcast, expressed his frustration over the ace’s poor results despite strong performances. On the social media platform X, Ben highlighted what he described as unusually bad luck affecting Justin’s stats throughout the season.
“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, MLB Analyst
This defense from a close family member underscores the tension between Verlander’s on-field results and his underlying abilities, shining light on the frustrating gap between effort and outcome.
Verlander Reflects on Performance and Adjustments After Latest Game
Following the loss to the Phillies, Justin Verlander spoke candidly during a postgame interview about the difficulties he’s encountered. Despite the ongoing losing streak, he expressed optimism about recent improvements in his pitching mechanics and velocity.
“First pitch of the game was 96 mph! I was like, ‘Oh my God, thank you!’ Today was the first time where I really felt like I was able to get guys out front and poor swings on off-speed. All in all, coming out of that one feeling good.”
—Justin Verlander, Giants Pitcher
Verlander also emphasized his focus on process over traditional metrics like wins or losses, explaining that his priority remains deceiving hitters and maintaining consistency in his deliveries.
“I try not to be results-oriented so much with wins or losses or a certain stat I’m looking to achieve. It’s more focused on being deceived by the hitter and feeling I can consistently get them out and fool them. That’s our job.”
—Justin Verlander, Giants Pitcher
Looking ahead, Verlander admitted that the season has been a search for solutions but remains hopeful about the impact of a recent mechanical adjustment.
“I’ve been searching a lot. It’s not been easy. I’ve been working my butt off, but I’m very optimistic this mechanical fix is the one that propels me into a good second half.”
—Justin Verlander, Giants Pitcher
Outlook for Verlander and the Giants as Season Reaches Midpoint
At 42 years old, Justin Verlander carries a 0-7 record so far with a 4.70 ERA, 67 strikeouts, and a 1.42 WHIP for the season. As the team approaches the All-Star break, much emphasis will be placed on whether Verlander can translate his apparent mechanical improvements into better results on the mound.
With a challenging first half behind him, Verlander’s performance in the coming months will be critical not only for his own career trajectory but also for the San Francisco Giants’ long-term plans. The club faces important decisions this offseason regarding the future of its veteran ace, making the second half of the season a crucial testing ground.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. How much does Justin Verlander sleep?
A. Baseball star Justin Verlander, famous for his fast throwing, says sleeping 10 hours each night helps him succeed. He uses blackout curtains and silences his phone to avoid disturbances. Verlander also advises his teammates on getting better sleep.
Q. How much sleep does Justin Verlander get?
A. Verlander tries to sleep 10 hours each night. “If I need extra, I’m okay with sleeping longer,” he explained. Occasionally, eight or nine hours is enough for him to feel refreshed, but other times he sleeps 11 or even 12 hours.