Hoping For A Smooth VerLanding

Well this is awkward. I’ve been an open Justin Verlander fan this year and his last four starts just have not bee what we’ve wanted, concluding with one of his worst outings...

Well this is awkward. I've been an open Justin Verlander fan this year and his last four starts just have not bee what we've wanted, concluding with one of his worst outings of the year with a 5.2 IP, 6 ER, 9 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks line against the Astros. Now his BB/9 is up to a horrendous 4.28 BB?9, 4.57 FIP isn't much better than his 4.87 ERA, and hard contact is a poor 34.8%. Jeeeeeeez. If you're an owner, you want to hear that he's going to figure it out and to hold and all that jazz. I want to say that - I truly do believe that Verlander is a much better pitcher than this and he will take a step forward at some point. Problem is that we don't know when that will be. It could be next week, it could be June, it could be August. I really don't believe Verlander has just "lost it". Velocity is still up a ton since last year - 95.0mph! - but it's for some reason corresponding with a drop in whiff rate, down from 12.0% to 9.0%. He's going to take a major hit on Monday down to the 20s - I just don't see why you wouldn't take someone like Lance McCullers or Jon Lester at this point - but if you're looking for a pitcher in the second half that could make a big impact that doesn't cost a pretty penny, I'd be talking to the JV owner in your league. There's still plenty of time for him to recover.

Let’s see how every other SP did yesterday:

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Nick Pollack

Founder of Pitcher List. Creator of CSW, The List, and SP Roundup. Worked with MSG, FanGraphs, CBS Sports, and Washington Post. Former college pitcher, travel coach, pitching coach, and Brandeis alum. Wants every pitcher to be dope.

13 responses to “Hoping For A Smooth VerLanding”

  1. Fletch47 says:

    Nova have thrown (I think it was) 75 pitches through 8 innings!

    • Nick Pollack says:

      Doesn’t really change anything in my view. His stuff just isn’t that good.

      • Fletch47 says:

        Not trying to change your opinion on Nova – he’s just bleh – just saying that is pretty ridiculous. I was watching the game and thought he had a change for a CGSO in under 85 pitches. Which would’ve been damn remarkable.

      • Zach says:

        Definitely agree on the Nova not being very good. He went from 8 innings of basically worthless innings except for the QS to 8.1 innings of negative pitching. Who is a buy low that you think would be a good target? Unfortunately the Loose Lips owner won’t budge. I also need another closer so I was thinking maybe Odor and Nova for Nola and Bush??? Thanks

  2. Jimmy Two-Times says:

    If you had Travis, would you drop Odor? I want him to get hot so bad but I really shouldn’t carry to 2Bs.

  3. Tim says:

    Quit making excuses against Rockies pitchers. They are here and now. Call Anderson’s May 6th performance against the Diamondbacks a fluke, Marquez’s May 10th performance against the Cubs another one. WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE

    • Nick Pollack says:

      Right? They have a legit staff and it’s super painful that they have to endure such a bad disadvantage by pitching in Coors.

      Unfortunately, we have no choice but to succumb to the numbers that tell us they can’t consistently be productive with the odds stacked against them.

  4. Tabernathy says:

    should i startt Lance lynn at coors or manaea at yankee stadium?

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