It's a stadium that he directed twice, but Verlander, who was hurt again, is so out of sync with his 20-year career in ML, SF's limitation

Jul 19, 2025

It's a stadium that he directed twice, but Verlander, who was hurt again, is so out of sync with his 20-year career in ML, SF's limitation
San Francisco Giants Justin Verlander starts an away game against the Toronto Blue Jays on the 19th (Korea time) and pitches in the bottom of the first inning. AP Yonhap News



San Francisco Giants Justin Verlander failed to win his first game of the season again.

Verlander started the opening game of the second half against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Center in Toronto, Canada on the 19th (Korea time), and allowed nine hits and four runs in two ⅔ innings. In a 0-4 loss, Verlander took the yoke of defeat.

Verlander, who signed a one-year, $15 million FA contract in February and wore a San Francisco uniform, did not win his 16th start of the season. He has eight losses and a 4.99 ERA in the season.




The defeat on this day could not be blamed on others. It's because he collapsed.

It's a stadium that he directed twice, but Verlander, who was hurt again, is so out of sync with his 20-year career in ML, SF's limitation
Toronto starter Chris Bassett. ImagesYonhap News
I was nervous from the start. After one out in the bottom of the first inning, Verlander was on the verge of first and second base by giving up a left-handed hit to George Springer and a walk to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Bobbi??He handled it with a double play by third baseman and prevented it with no runs.

However, the second crisis did not overcome. Verlander, who sent out the leadoff Addison Barger on an infield hit to the second base, was thrown to the first and second bases with no outs after a left-handed hit by Alejandro Kirk. He then allowed Joey Roperfido to double on the right-field line, giving him his first run. Verlander, who gave up two more runs after a two-run double to right when left-handed batter Will Wagner threw an 80.2-mile curveball toward his body with one out and runners on second and third, threw another 80.7-mile curveball after a neck-and-neck race with left-handed batter Nathan Roakes up to eight pitches He allowed another run after being hit by a right-handed hit. 0-4.




Verlander, who was then hit by Springer in the middle of the right and was on the first and third bases with one out, handled Barger with a fly ball to the second base with two outs and the bases loaded.

The situation did not improve in the third inning. He caught Ernie Clement at first and second base with no outs, who was hit by an infield hit by the leadoff Kirk and a right-handed hit by Loperfido, but walked Wagner and eventually handed over the mound to Tristan Beck.

It's a stadium that he directed twice, but Verlander, who was hurt again, is so out of sync with his 20-year career in ML, SF's limitation
Colleagues gather on the mound to talk as the Verlander faces a crisis in the second inning. AP Yonhap News
Verlander had 25 balls out of 66 pitches and allowed three four pitches. In addition, the first strike rate was not high at 10 out of 18 and there were many miscues.




The fastball speed of 30 throws was up to 97 miles and an average of 95.4 miles, 1.5 miles faster than the season average of 93.9 miles, but it didn't work. Of the 36 swings made by the Toronto batter, only five were swings and misses. In other words, the veteran's strength was his poor level of control and ability to manage the game.

It was in stark contrast to Toronto starter Chris Bassett, who allowed 10 hits in six ⅓ innings but not allowing a run. It is the first time in about 10 years that a pitcher gave up a double-digit hit but blocked it without losing a point since Chicago White Sox John Danks on June 1, 2015. At that time, the Dax won a shutout with 10 hits and no runs in 9 innings against the Houston Astros.

It's a stadium that he directed twice, but Verlander, who was hurt again, is so out of sync with his 20-year career in ML, SF's limitation
Lee Jung-hoo hits a right-center hit in the top of the second inning. AP Yonhap News
Colleagues also weighed on Verlander's shoulders. San Francisco's batters had chances on the first and second bases with no outs in the top of the first inning with consecutive hits by lead Mike Astremski and Elliott Ramos, but Rafael Devers poured cold water on the second baseman by hitting a double play, and in the second inning, Dominic Smith hit a double play by second baseman this time after a series of hits by Lee Jung-hoo and Casey Schmidt.

Verlander achieved two no-hitters at Rogers Centre. On May 8, 2011, when he was a member of the Detroit Tigers, and on September 2, 2019, when he was with Houston, he produced nine scoreless innings, respectively. However, the match against Toronto on the day was a game where I felt the burden of time anew.

Verlander, who made his major league debut with the Detroit Tigers in 2005 and commanded the era for 20 years, including three Cy Young Awards and one MVP, has never had a more arduous season. It is not an exaggeration to say that there is a mismatch with San Francisco.





This article was translated by Naver AI translator.