Justin Verlander looked like he turned back the clock in San Francisco on Sunday afternoon. The 42-year-old right-hander threw 121 pitches, punched out 10 Orioles, and walked off the mound to a standing ovation as the Giants crushed Baltimore 13-2.
Giants let the veteran go deep into the game for a win
It was career win No. 265 and his third of the season, but it wasn’t just another number. This was Verlander’s first 10-strikeout game in more than three years, and his highest pitch count since 2018, when he was still dominating with Houston. He is also in the top 40 all-time for wins in MLB, tied with Jim McCormick.
A workload from another era
In today’s game, where starters rarely push past 100 pitches, Verlander’s outing felt like something out of the 1990s. Bob Melvin made it clear after the game that his ace wasn’t looking to be babied. “You don’t take the ball from him in that spot,” Melvin said. “He earned every pitch.”
Verlander’s final two strikeouts in the fifth came against Gunnar Henderson and Ryan Mountcastle, slamming the door on any hopes of an Orioles rally. That strikeout of Henderson brought the crowd at Oracle Park to its feet, knowing they were watching a future Hall of Famer squeeze everything out of a start that could have easily ended two innings earlier.
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A rough season, but signs of life
The Giants signed Verlander in the offseason, hoping his presence would solidify a rotation in need of leadership. Instead, he went winless in his first 16 starts, carrying the weight of a 3-10 record into late August. But now, after beating the Cubs earlier in the week and mowing through Baltimore, Verlander suddenly looks like a pitcher who could matter down the stretch.
His ERA dipped to 4.29 after Sunday, and while the Giants still face an uphill climb in the playoff race, Verlander’s resurgence could give them the jolt they’ve been waiting for. San Francisco sits in the middle of a crowded National League Wild Card battle, where a single winning streak can flip the standings.
History still within reach
Verlander has always cared more about dominance than numbers, but the milestones keep stacking up. Sunday marked the 73rd time in his career that he’s recorded double-digit strikeouts. With 265 career wins, he continues to creep toward the rare 300-win plateau, though even he admits that’s a long shot at his age.
The Giants are now 68-69, 10 games back in the National League West standings, and five back of the New York Mets for the final wildcard in the National League.
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