Detroit Tigers: Is It Time to Worry about Verlander?

Detroit Tigers number one starter Justin Verlander‘s performance against the Cleveland Indians was anything but stellar. With his current 6.49 ERA and a 1.315 WHIP, it is safe to say that he is not performing at his best in 2016.

As we enter May and the season begins to heat up, the world was excited to see JV and Kate Upton making their relationship official. She debuted the eye-popping engagement ring at the Met Gala last night. Unfortunately, Verlander could not follow up her successful appearance with a successful outing of his own on the mound.

With the relationship status change and the faltering on the mound, is it finally time to start worrying about Verlander and his ability to pitch?

For a man who could consistently throw 100 mph in his prime, having difficulty throwing 91 mph is a humbling challenge. Especially for a man with the competitive spirit that Verlander has. But, if he cannot get the job done, is he doing more harm than good?

At the end of 2015, Verlander seemed to be moving in the right direction. He was throwing fastballs that were reaching speeds up to 100 mph. His secondary pitches were earning strikeouts. He was on.

Enter 2016 and the JV of 2014 has reappeared, but worse. His ERA in 2014 was a disappointing 4.54, which was his second-lowest average in his career after 2008. It is evident that his velocity has been dropping over the last few years and he seems to be struggling to figure out what to do. His pitches do not have late movement, making them incredibly easy to see and hit.

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What is challenging for fans to watch is the fact that other pitchers are able to get swings and misses with fastballs in the low-90s. But, Verlander struggles. Pitching does not have to be all about velocity. Pitching is an art that involves deceiving the batter. Pitchers do not just have to blow the ball past the batters. As Verlander matures, his pitching needs to become more artistic. He might not have the speed that he once has, but he should be able to place the ball in a way that gets outs.

So, as we, the fans, worry about whether Verlander is really struggling, we should remember that he pitched well against the A’s just a few days ago. He allowed three runs, five hits, and six strikeouts on April 27. But, today was a completely different story. Against the Indians, his final line included eight hits, seven earned runs, three walks, two strikeouts, and one home run. Not a pretty night for a guy with what many consider the prettiest fiancée on the planet.

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This consistent inconsistency is troublesome, especially for a man who is making an incredible amount of money. The Tigers should be able to rely on Verlander to come out, dominate the mound, and get a win. He had run support, the solid defense, and a five-game win streak behind him. He just has to do better.