Aug 10, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) throws against the Seattle Mariners during the fourth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander returned to ace form during the 2016 campaign. He could very well end up winning a second Cy Young award. Here’s a review of Verlander’s efforts last season.
Detroit Tigers fans are used to seeing Justin Verlander dominate opposing hitters.
From his first full season in the Majors in 2006 to 2013, Verlander complied 137 wins while pitching to a 3.38 ERA and a 3.39 FIP in 1760.2 innings pitched. He also added 1664 strikeouts over the same span.
During the same span, the future Hall of Famer allowed just 2.8 walks and 0.8 home runs per nine innings—all the while compiling a stellar 40.9 WAR.
Due to all that success, the 2014 season was concerning for Tigers fans. Verlander’s ERA jumped to 4.54 as he allowed the most earned runs in the league. 15 wins and a 3.74 FIP improved the stat line, but Verlander wasn’t the same pitcher who won the MVP award.
Fast forward to 2016 and Justin Verlander is back to dominating opposing hitters. In fact, the starter’s 254 strikeouts in 2016 were four more than he had when he claimed both the MVP and the Cy Young award back in 2011.
Here’s a look back at the 33-year-old’s 2016 season—the “#MustSeeJV” hashtag certainly applies.
Aug 10, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) throws against the Seattle Mariners during the second inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
2016 Stats
Simply put, Verlander was excellent regardless of what stat is used to judge his season.
The starter won 16 of his 34 starts, throwing 227.2 innings. Over those 227.2 innings, Verlander struck out 10.04 batters per nine innings while walking just 2.25 per nine frames. His 254 total strikeouts led the league.
In addition, the veteran held opposing batters to a .204 batting average and a tidy 1.00 WHIP.
He didn’t just excel in preventing base runners, Verlander put up outstanding run-prevention numbers with a 3.04 ERA, a 3.42 SIERA, a 3.48 FIP and a 3.78 xFIP.
All told, the longtime Tiger led Detroit’s starters in just about every major pitching category. Only Michael Fulmer and Mike Pelfrey allowed fewer home runs per nine innings. That was it.
From WHIP to strikeout percentage to SIERA, Verlander led the charge for Detroit.
Best Stretch
While it was a particularly long stretch, the former first-round pick was dominant after the calendar turned to July.
From the second of July through October 2nd, Verlander pitched to a miniscule 1.98 ERA and a .239 on-base percentage against while striking out 147 batters in 123 innings. Perhaps most importantly, the Tigers won 11 of his 18 starts during the stretch.
Jul 20, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) acknowledges the fans as he walks off the field in the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
2017 Outlook
Along with Miguel Cabrera and Michael Fulmer, Justin Verlander is perhaps the biggest lock to return to Detroit next season. He simply isn’t going anywhere.
Last season where there was uncertainty with the back end of the Tigers rotation, there shouldn’t be any when Detroit players convene in Lakeland to begin Spring Training.
Verlander will lead a rotation that will also be headlined by Fulmer. In an ideal world, Jordan Zimmermann will bounce back and provide a source of quality innings, while Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd continue to take steps forward.
Given Anibal Sanchez and Mike Pelfrey’s struggles, a swingman probably wouldn’t hurt, but the aforementioned five pitchers give the Tigers the best chance to return to the playoffs.
Never one to shy away from pitching in crucial games, Verlander will once again lead the way for Detroit.
While Detroit’s ace isn’t the flame-throwing hurler he once was, he’s clearly evolved as a pitcher to the point where he could win the 2016 American League Cy Young without relying on that blazing fastball.
Expect Verlander to once again post ace-like numbers for the Detroit Tigers during the 2017 campaign as he marches the team back to the playoffs.
May 18, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) warms up prior to the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Justin Verlander, 2016 Cy Young Winner?
While the Tigers didn’t reach the postseason in 2016, Justin Verlander could very well take home another Cy Young award.
Verlander finished at the top, or near the top of the league in most pitching stats. These included strikeouts (first), WHIP (first), WAR (tied for first) SIERA (second), ERA (second), innings pitched, strikeouts per nine innings (third), FIP (fourth), walks per nine innings (ninth) and xFIP (11th).
Want more in-depth stats? You’ve got them
Detroit’s ace ranked fifth in swinging strike percentage and seventh in O-Swing percentage (O-Swing percentage looks at swings at pitches outside the strike zone).
2016 vs 2011
Back in 2011, Verlander took home both the Cy Young award and the MVP award. His numbers this season very closely resemble those form his award-winning campaign.
2011 Stats
6.4 WAR, 251 innings pitched, 2.98 SIERA, 0.920 WHIP, nine strikeouts per nine innings, two walks per nine innings, 10.4 swinging strike percentage and a 33.3 O-swing percentage.
2016 Stats
5.2 WAR, 227.2 innings pitched, 3.42 SIERA, 1.00 WHIP, 10.04 strikeouts per nine innings, 2.25 walks per nine innings, 12 swinging strike percentage and a 34.3 O-Swing percentage.
The scary thing—at least for opposing hitters—is that Verlander continues to improve. His swinging strike percentage represented a career-best in 2016, while his O-Swing percentage was the second-best mark in his career.
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