Detroit Tigers Need Justin Verlander To Return To Ace Form
By Pete Schwichtenberg
@schwick26_pete
Getty Images
For four years, Justin Verlander was a Clayton Kershaw-type presence with the Detroit Tigers. Through these seasons, he averaged 238 innings pitched, led the league in strikeouts three times and won 78 games. There was not a better pitcher in all of the American League.
But through parts of the last two seasons, things have not been easy. While he has not been terrible, Verlander has been anything but elite. In 2013, he went 13-12 with an ERA of 3.46. Last season, things got much worse as he had an ERA of 4.54 and led the league with 104 earned runs. Although the offense is set to be beefed up and much-improved, the Tigers are going nowhere unless Verlander gets back to elite status.
Yes, the Tigers still have David Price, who they traded for last season, but with at least $140 million committed to him through the next five years, Verlander needs to get back to pitching like Justin Verlander.
He has had this type of trying season before. In 2008, Verlander went 11-17 leading the league in losses and posting a career worst 4.84 ERA. His command was awful and the results showed. But, after that year of struggle, he became the pitcher he is known for being as he went on his historic four-year run.
The Tigers have Price and they have bats, but all the upgrades will again be meaningless if Verlander doesn’t reclaim his former role as the team’s ace. He has had his hardships before and at the age of 32, he will be out to prove that he is still among the best as he looks to keep the Tigers on top of the highly competitive AL Central in 2015.
Pete Schwichtenberg is an MLB writer for Rantsports. Follow @schwick26_pete, Like him on Facebook, or Add him to your Google Network.
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