Justin Verlander's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A success timeline featuring the most significant achievements of Justin Verlander.

Justin Verlander is a highly accomplished American professional baseball pitcher currently playing for the San Francisco Giants. His illustrious career includes stints with the Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, and New York Mets. Verlander's achievements include three Cy Young Awards, an AL MVP Award, and two World Series championships. Widely regarded as one of the best pitchers in the history of baseball, he has consistently demonstrated exceptional skill and dominance throughout his career.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1905: Comparison to Christy Mathewson's Record

In 2013 Justin Verlander surpassed Christy Mathewson's 28 scoreless innings against the Philadelphia Athletics from 1905 to 1911.

1911: Comparison to Christy Mathewson's Record

In 2013 Justin Verlander surpassed Christy Mathewson's 28 scoreless innings against the Philadelphia Athletics from 1905 to 1911.

1965: Comparison to Sandy Koufax

In 2013, Justin Verlander became the second pitcher in Major League history with ten or more strikeouts and no runs allowed in back-to-back postseason games, a feat previously achieved by Sandy Koufax in Games 5 and 7 of the 1965 World Series.

1968: Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio Record

In 2016, Justin Verlander's 4.46 strikeout-to-walk ratio was a career-best and a Tiger record for a season, eclipsing the 4.44 mark set by Denny McLain in the 1968 season.

1970: First to Ten Strikeouts Since 1970

On April 4, 2017, Justin Verlander became the first Tigers player since Mickey Lolich in 1970 to record ten strikeouts on Opening Day.

1973: Verlander Awarded AL Player of the Week

For the week of September 25 to October 1, Justin Verlander was awarded his 10th career AL Player of the Week award, becoming the fourth pitcher to win as many as 10 times since the award was established in 1973.

1986: Tied Astros Franchise Record

In 1986, Jim Deshaies set an Astros franchise record of eight consecutive strikeouts in a game, a feat that Justin Verlander later tied.

2000: Lowest qualifying ERA in AL since 2000

In 2022, Justin Verlander's ERA was the lowest qualifying ERA over a non-shortened season in the American League since Pedro Martinez's 1.74 mark in 2000.

2000: Lowest WHIP since Pedro Martinez

Justin Verlander's 0.803 WHIP in 2019 was the lowest in a major league season since Pedro Martínez posted a 0.737 WHIP in 2000.

May 17, 2002: School Record 17 Strikeouts

On May 17, 2002, Justin Verlander struck out a then-school record 17 batters against James Madison.

2002: CAA Rookie of the Year

In 2002, Justin Verlander was named CAA Rookie of the Year.

2002: Verlander and Cole emulate Johnson and Schilling

In 2018, Verlander and Gerrit Cole became the first teammates to strike out at least 250 batters in the same season since Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling in 2002.

2002: Verlander and Cole repeat feat from 2002

In 2019, Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole became the first pair of starting pitchers to strike out 300+ hitters in the same season since Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling in 2002.

2003: All-CAA Honors

In 2003, Justin Verlander earned All-CAA honors.

2003: Silver Medal at Pan American Games

In 2003, Justin Verlander helped lead the United States national team to a silver medal at the Pan American Games. That year he also set a school single-season record by recording 139 strikeouts.

2003: Single-Season Strikeout Record

In 2003, Justin Verlander set a school single-season record by recording 139 strikeouts.

2003: Verlander Wins Silver Medal at Pan American Games

In 2003, as a college sophomore, Justin Verlander pitched for the United States national baseball team and helped the team win a silver medal in the Pan American Games held in Santo Domingo.

2004: CAA Strikeout Record

In 2004, Justin Verlander broke his own record establishing a new Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) record with 151 strikeouts.

2004: ODU Alumni Association's Male Athlete of the Year

In 2004, Justin Verlander was named the ODU Alumni Association's Male Athlete of the Year.

July 4, 2006: Multiple 100+ mph Fastballs

On July 4, 2006, Justin Verlander, Joel Zumaya, and Fernando Rodney each threw multiple fastballs over 100 mph, marking the first time in MLB history that three pitchers on the same team had done so during a game.

2006: Pitch Count Since Rookie Season

As of 2015, Justin Verlander has thrown more pitches than any other pitcher since his rookie season in 2006, with 32,535 pitches in the regular season and 1,688 in the postseason.

2006: AL Rookie of the Year

In 2006, Justin Verlander was named AL Rookie of the Year.

2007: First No-Hitter at Comerica Park

In 2007, Justin Verlander pitched the first no-hitter at Comerica Park.

2007: No-Hitter Against the Milwaukee Brewers

In 2007, Justin Verlander recorded a no-hitter against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 12, striking out twelve and walking four while throwing a fastball 102 mph.

August 22, 2008: Randy Johnson's 10+ Strikeout Game

On August 22, 2008, Randy Johnson, at 44 years and 347 days old, had a game with 10+ strikeouts. This is mentioned in relation to Justin Verlander achieving a similar feat at an older age later in his career.

2008: Verlander's Pitching Since 2008

Since 2008, Justin Verlander has thrown pitches of over 100+ mph in the 8th inning or later 44 times, significantly more than any other pitcher. He has also thrown the most pitches in the major leagues since the beginning of the 2008 season.

July 24, 2009: Escaped Bases Loaded, No Outs Situation

On July 24, 2009, Justin Verlander became the first Major League starter in 24 years to load the bases with nobody out in the ninth inning or later and get out of it without allowing a run.

2009: Led MLB in Strikeouts

In 2009, Justin Verlander finished the season with an MLB-leading 269 strikeouts and 19 wins.

2009: Verlander Leads League in Innings Pitched and Strikeout Champion

In 2009, Justin Verlander led the league in innings pitched and was the American League strikeout champion. He also led all of major league baseball in strikeouts.

April 22, 2011: 1,000th Career Strikeout

On April 22, 2011, Justin Verlander recorded his 1,000th career strikeout in a 9–3 win over the White Sox, becoming the 15th Tiger to do so.

2011: Verlander's 2011 MVP Campaign

In 2011, Justin Verlander had an MVP campaign where he won his first ERA title. His performance in 2022 allowed him to win another ERA title since his 2011 MVP campaign.

2011: Most Successful Season

In 2011, Justin Verlander had his most successful season, pitching his second career no-hitter and winning the Pitching Triple Crown, the AL Cy Young Award, the AL MVP Award, and the Sporting News Player of the Year Award.

2011: Verlander Leads League in Innings Pitched and Strikeout Champion

In 2011, Justin Verlander led the league in innings pitched and was the American League strikeout champion. He also led all of major league baseball in strikeouts.

2011: Awards and Recognition in 2011

In 2011, Justin Verlander received the AL Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award, Sporting News Player of the Year Award, a Players Choice Award for Player the Year and Most Outstanding American League pitcher, and a USA Today American League Cy Young. He was also named the cover athlete of Major League Baseball 2K12.

2011: AL Cy Young and MVP Awards

In 2011, Justin Verlander won both the AL Cy Young Award and the AL MVP Award. He was the first pitcher to claim an AL MVP Award since Dennis Eckersley in 1992, and unanimously won the 2011 AL Cy Young Award.

2011: Won the Triple Crown of Pitching

In 2011, Justin Verlander won the Triple Crown of pitching in the AL, leading the league in wins (24), strikeouts (250) and ERA (2.40).

2011: Lowest ERA Since MVP Season

Verlander posted his lowest ERA in 2018 since his American League MVP and Cy Young Award-winning 2011 season.

May 18, 2012: Complete-Game One-Hitter

On May 18, 2012, Justin Verlander took a no-hitter into the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates before giving up a one-out single in a 6–0 victory. It was his first career complete-game one-hitter.

2012: World Series Performance

During the 2012 World Series, Justin Verlander pitched in Game 1 against the San Francisco Giants, giving up five earned runs in four innings. He allowed two home runs to Pablo Sandoval, and the Tigers were eventually swept in the Series.

2012: Cy Young Award Voting

Following the 2016 season, Justin Verlander finished second in Cy Young voting, losing to Rick Porcello by five points, 132-137, in what was the second-closest vote in history (to the 2012 AL Cy Young race Verlander lost).

2012: Verlander Leads League in Innings Pitched and Strikeout Champion

In 2012, Justin Verlander led the league in innings pitched and was the American League strikeout champion. He also led all of major league baseball in strikeouts.

2012: AL Pennant

In 2012, Justin Verlander was a key figure in the Detroit Tigers winning the AL pennant.

2012: All-Star Selection and Season Performance

In 2012, Justin Verlander was selected for the American League All-Star team, named the starting pitcher, and joined by teammates Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera. By the All-Star break, he had a 9-5 record with a 2.58 ERA. Verlander led the AL in innings pitched (132+2⁄3), strikeouts (128) and complete games (five). He pitched one inning in the All-Star game, allowing five runs, and finished the 2012 regular season with a 17-8 record, leading the AL in innings pitched (238+1⁄3), strikeouts (239), and complete games (six), while ranking second in ERA (2.64).

2013: ALDS Performance

During Game 2 of the 2013 ALDS, Justin Verlander struck out eleven Oakland Athletics hitters in seven shutout innings, though the Tigers lost the game 1-0 in the ninth inning. In Game 5 of the same series, Verlander pitched eight shutout innings with ten strikeouts in a 3-0 victory, taking a no-hitter into the 7th inning. This win in 2013 sent the Tigers to the American League Championship Series for the third consecutive year. Justin Verlander defeated the Athletics in Game 5 of the ALDS for the second straight season and is one of four starting pitchers in Major League history to have multiple wins in elimination postseason games, joining Bob Gibson, Chris Carpenter, and Matt Cain.

2013: Reached triple digits on the radar gun in 2013

During the 2013 season, Justin Verlander reached triple digits on the radar gun.

2013: Verlander Forms Wins for Warriors Foundation and Receives Bob Feller Act of Valor Award

In 2013, Justin Verlander formed the Wins for Warriors Foundation and donated over $1 million to the organization. He was also honored as one of the inaugural recipients of the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award for his work with military veterans.

2013: Verlander's Achievement in Game 3 of the 2013 ALCS

In Game 1 of the 2022 ALCS, Justin Verlander struck out a postseason record-tying six consecutive hitters, repeating an achievement of his in Game 3 of the 2013 ALCS.

2013: All-Star Selection and Inavailability

Justin Verlander was selected as a reserve pitcher for the American League All-Star team in 2013 by his manager, Jim Leyland. This marked Verlander's sixth All-Star selection, but due to him starting a game on July 14 for the Tigers, he was declared unavailable for the July 16 All-Star game. Entering the All-Star break in 2013, Verlander had a 10-6 record, 125 strikeouts, and a 3.50 ERA.

2013: ALCS Elimination and Postseason Stats

The Red Sox, the eventual World Series champions, eliminated the Tigers in six ALCS games in 2013. During the 2013 postseason, Justin Verlander had a 1-1 record with a 0.39 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched. In two of his starts, the Tigers scored no runs.

February 2014: Recovery from Surgery

Following his core muscle surgery on January 9, 2014, Justin Verlander recovered in time for pitchers and catchers to report to training camp in February 2014.

2014: AL Central Division Championship

In 2014, Justin Verlander was a key figure in the Detroit Tigers winning their fourth consecutive AL Central division championship.

2014: Velocity in 2014

In 2014, Justin Verlander's average velocity was 91.2 mph.

2014: Improved Second Half Performance

Justin Verlander showed improvement in the second half of 2014. His ERA and WHIP dropped to 4.54 and 1.398, respectively, and he finished with a 15-12 record. In 2014, his strikeout rate remained low, with 159 strikeouts and a 6.9 K/9 IP rate, the lowest since his 2006 rookie season.

2015: Velocity in 2015

In 2015, Justin Verlander's average velocity was 92.3 mph.

2015: Near No-Hitter and Season Stats

On August 26, 2015, Justin Verlander came within three outs of his third career no-hitter before allowing a double to Chris Iannetta. He finished the game with one hit, two walks, and nine strikeouts in a 5-0 victory. Verlander finished the 2015 season with a 5-8 record in 20 starts, a 3.38 ERA, and a 1.088 WHIP. His walk rate dropped to 2.2 while his strikeout rate inched back up to 7.6.

2016: Verlander named American League strikeout champion

In 2016, Justin Verlander was named the American League strikeout champion.

2016: Season Performance

Justin Verlander finished the 2016 season with a 16-9 record and led the American League with 254 strikeouts. His 1.00 WHIP also ranked first in the AL, and his 3.04 ERA ranked second. Verlander's 2016 strikeout rate of 10.0 per 9 IP was the second-best of his career, and his 4.46 strikeout-to-walk ratio was a career-best and a Tiger record for a season.

2016: American League Pitcher of the Month

Justin Verlander was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for July 2016. He had a 4-0 record with a 1.69 ERA in six starts, holding opposing hitters to a .171 average and striking out 48 batters in 42+2⁄3 innings.

2016: Strikeout Milestones and All-Star Break Performance

On May 8, 2016, Justin Verlander recorded his 1,981st strikeout as a Tiger, surpassing Jack Morris. On May 18, he recorded his 2,000th career strikeout. Verlander entered the 2016 All-Star break with an 8-6 record, 4.07 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 120 strikeouts in 117+1⁄3 innings.

April 4, 2017: Opening Day Strikeout Record

On April 4, 2017, in a win against the Chicago White Sox, Justin Verlander tied a franchise record for the most strikeouts on Opening Day with ten.

2017: Verlander's Velocity Soared Back Up in 2017

After injury-prone seasons, Justin Verlander's velocity soared back up to an average of 95.3 mph in his 2017 campaign, marking a significant increase compared to previous years.

2017: World Series Champion and AL Championship Series MVP

In 2017, Justin Verlander was named AL Championship Series MVP and was co-winner of the Babe Ruth Award as the Houston Astros won the 2017 World Series.

2017: Trade to the Houston Astros and regular season performance

In 2017, Justin Verlander was traded to the Houston Astros just before the waiver trade deadline on August 31. In his Astros debut on September 5, 2017, he won against the Seattle Mariners, allowing one run and striking out seven. He also won the AL West division-clinching game on September 17, 2017. Verlander finished the 2017 regular season with a 15–8 record, a 3.36 ERA, and 219 strikeouts.

2017: Velocity increase in 2017

In 2017, Justin Verlander's fastball velocity increased to an average of 95.3 mph, a significant increase from previous years. He also reached triple digits on the radar gun for the first time since 2013 during the 2017 season.

2017: Astros break strikeout record in 2017

In 2017, Verlander helped set a new Major League record for the Astros with their 1,069th strikeout by their starters in a season, breaking the mark set by the Cleveland Indians.

2017: Babe Ruth Award and Postseason Performance

In the 2017 postseason, Justin Verlander made six appearances, starting five games, and achieving a 4–1 record. He had a 2.21 ERA and 38 strikeouts. Along with Jose Altuve, Verlander was named co-MVP and winner of the Babe Ruth Award for the 2017 postseason.

2017: Postseason Berth in a Verlander Start Since 2017 Trade

Since Justin Verlander was traded to the Houston Astros in 2017, the Astros have clinched a postseason berth four times in a Verlander start.

2018: AL Leader in Multiple Categories and AL Pitcher of the Month

By 2018, 12 games into the season, Justin Verlander led the AL in 17 different categories. He was named AL Pitcher of the Month for May 2018, producing a 0.86 ERA and striking out 50 over 41+2⁄3 innings. He dominated the Yankees in two starts, allowing only one run and striking out 20.

2018: 200th Career Win

In 2018, Justin Verlander earned his 200th career win.

2018: Dominant start to the 2018 season

In 2018, Justin Verlander had a dominant start to the season, leading the Astros rotation. In April 2018, he went 4–0 with a 1.36 ERA and 48 strikeouts. He was named the AL Player of the Week on April 17 after striking out 20 in 15 innings.

2018: Verlander named American League strikeout champion

In 2018, Justin Verlander was named the American League strikeout champion.

2018: Career-high Strikeouts and Season Performance in 2018

Justin Verlander finished the 2018 season with a 16–9 record, a 2.52 ERA, and a career-high 290 strikeouts. He led the AL in strikeouts and had the lowest ERA since 2011. He also led the major leagues with a 0.902 WHIP and a 7.84 strikeouts-to-walks ratio.

2018: Cy Young Award Runner-Up Finish

On November 14, 2018, Justin Verlander finished second in the AL Cy Young Award voting to Blake Snell. This was Verlander's third Cy Young runner-up finish and sixth time finishing in the top five.

November 12, 2019: Second Cy Young Award

On November 12, 2019, Justin Verlander won his second Cy Young Award, receiving 171 points and 17 of 30 first-place votes.

2019: Postseason Record

During game 2 of the 2019 World Series, Justin Verlander recorded the 200th postseason strikeout of his career, setting a new major league record. He also became the first pitcher in major league history to lose his first five World Series decisions.

2019: Third No-Hitter and Second Cy Young Award

In 2019, Justin Verlander became the sixth pitcher in MLB history to throw three career no-hitters. He also had his first career 300-strikeout season and won his second Cy Young award.

2019: Vesting Option Qualification

In 2019, Justin Verlander's contract included a $22 million vesting option for 2020 if he finished in the top five in Cy Young Award voting.

2019: Performance Stats in 2019

Justin Verlander finished the 2019 season with a 21–6 record, 300 strikeouts, and a 2.58 ERA. He led MLB in innings pitched, games started, and wins. His 0.803 WHIP was the lowest since 2000.

2019: 3,000th career strikeout

On September 28, 2019, Justin Verlander recorded his 3,000th career strikeout in his final start of the regular season, becoming the 18th pitcher in history to reach this milestone. He also recorded his 300th strikeout of the season.

April 9, 2022: Return to Baseball

On April 9, 2022, Justin Verlander made his return to baseball against the Los Angeles Angels, for the first time since Opening Day 2020. He struck out seven and allowed one run over five innings.

August 23, 2022: Verlander Throws Six Hitless Innings Against Twins

On August 23, 2022, Justin Verlander pitched six hitless innings and recorded ten strikeouts in a victory against the Minnesota Twins. With this performance, Verlander surpassed Pedro Martínez on the all-time strikeout list and reclaimed the lead as the active career leader in strikeouts.

2022: Verlander Concludes 2022 Season

In 2022, Justin Verlander finished the season with an 18–4 record, a 1.75 ERA, and 185 strikeouts. He led the Major Leagues in ERA, WHIP, and BAA, and the American League in wins. Verlander also won his first ERA title since 2011 and set a career-best ERA.

2022: Verlander's Performance in 2022 ALCS and World Series

In Game 1 of the 2022 ALCS, Justin Verlander struck out eleven batters. He allowed five earned runs in Game 1 of the 2022 World Series but earned his first career World Series win in Game 5. The Astros defeated the Phillies, securing Verlander's second World Series ring.

2023: Verlander's 2023 Debut and Victory Over All 30 Teams

In 2023, Justin Verlander was activated from the injured list by the Mets and made his debut against the Detroit Tigers. On May 10, Verlander struck out seven hitters and secured a victory against the Cincinnati Reds, becoming the 21st pitcher in MLB history to defeat all 30 teams.

May 25, 2024: Verlander Passes Greg Maddux on All-Time Strikeout List

On May 25, 2024, Justin Verlander passed Greg Maddux for 10th on the all-time strikeout list, recording his 3,372nd career strikeout in a victory against the Oakland Athletics. This win was also the 260th of Verlander's career, the most of any pitcher who debuted in the 21st century.

2024: Verlander's 2024 Season Debut and Strikeout Milestone

Justin Verlander began the 2024 season on the injured list and made his debut on April 19, pitching six innings in a win against the Washington Nationals. During the game, Verlander passed Phil Niekro for 12th place on the all-time strikeout list.