Justin Verlander keeps climbing MLB strikeout list
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Justin Verlander. San Francisco and the veteran righty agreed to a one-year, $15 million deal. It was a major risk with him set to be 42 years old once Opening Day rolled around, especially with him coming off the least productive season of his career in 2024.
The future Hall of Famer began his afternoon by striking out James Wood swinging with an elevated 95.3 mph four-seam fastball. He followed up by punching out CJ Abrams swinging with a down-and-in slider that dropped off the table, bringing him one strikeout away from history.
The Giants will need Verlander to pitch well if they are to have any chance of competing in the NL West, especially given that Roki Sasaki will not be signing in San Francisco.
Justin Verlander tossed the 3,500th strikeout of his career in the San Francisco Giants' showdown with the Washington Nationals on Sunday, becoming the 10th pitcher in MLB history to hit the mark.