Verlander (3-3) allowed four runs (all earned) over six innings and took the loss in Sunday's game against the Angels. He gave up five hits and five walks while striking out seven.
Verlander struggled with his control in this one, walking at least five batters in a game for the second time this season. The veteran's BB/9 is up to 4.66, which would be a career worst and is more than double his rate from 2016. The strikeouts are still there, and Verlander's average fastball is actually up a tick from 93.5 mph in 2016 to 94.8 this season. That suggests that if he can limit the walks moving forward, Verlander could approach his 3.04 ERA, 254 strikeouts and 16 wins from a season ago. He lines up to face the Rangers at home Saturday in his next start.