Detroit Tigers: Top 10 Starting Pitchers of All Time

Apr 13, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander (35) greets teammates during pre-game introductions before playing the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

1. Justin Verlander

JV has been the face of the Detroit Tigers since his rookie season in 2006 when he won the Rookie of the Year Award, and received votes for the MVP and Cy Young Awards, too. He helped bring the Detroit Tigers to the 2006 World Series along with the new manager, Jim Leyland. Verlander finished his rookie year with a record of 17-9 and 3.63 ERA.

Sep 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher J. Verlander (35) gets set to pitch in the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

His best year was 2011, where he won both the Cy Young and the MVP, sharing the accomplishment with Newhouser and McLain. He finished that season with a .828 win-loss percentage, 2.40 ERA, and 0.920 WHIP. He threw several no-hitters and also earned the coveted Triple Crown of Pitching. While he has had two rough years due to injuries, he finished the 2015 season with the signature fastball that put him on the map. As a lifetime American League player, Verlander has had very few opportunities to hit. He finally got his first official hit in 2014 against the San Diego Padres. He actually scored one run and had two hits in the game on April 12.

Verlander is known as a workhorse, where he rarely misses a start. Until his injury in 2014, he had never been on the disabled list. He opened seven seasons from 2008 until 2014. He has thrown more pitches than any other current pitcher since 2008.

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He is signed with the Tigers until 2020, so fans will get to enjoy his fastball for a few more years. Many believe he has the stuff to be voted into the Hall of Fame. Unlike Morris, Verlander is a media darling who shows the ultimate respect for the fans who pay to see him pitch.