Verlander's 2 Seasons

Justin Verlander had another solid performance tonight in the Tigers 13-6 blowout of the Rangers: 7 IP, 3 ER, 13 SO, 0 BB. His overall numbers, while impressive, do not tell the story of season:

Overall: 12-5, 3.16 ERA, 172 SO, 43 BB

First 4 starts: 0-2, 9.00 ERA, 25 SO, 9 BB
Last 18 starts: 12-3, 2.26 ERA, 147 SO, 34 BB

Home: 7-0, 1.15 ERA (1st in baseball), 74 SO, 23 BB, .183 Opp. BA (1st in baseball)

Away: 5-5, 4.71 ERA (3.13 since April 22nd), 98 SO, 20 BB

His early struggles might cost him the Cy Young Award, although he is in the discussion right now and has time to put up the numbers to win it.

It's a great bounceback performance for Verlander, who was 11-17 with a 4.87 ERA in 2008. He has really improved his strikeout rate and lowered his walk rate this year over his previous performance.

SO/9
2005-2008: 7.2
2009: 10.7

BB/9
2005-2008: 3.28
2009: 2.7

WHIP
2005-2008: 1.33
2009: 1.17

The one thing he probably really wants to do is make up for his mediocre postseason performance in 2006: 1-2, 5.82 ERA and 2 errors.