After disappointing up to that point, Justin Verlander turned it on about this time last season, compiling a 2.27 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings over his final six starts. OK, so it was more like a couple weeks from now, but you get the idea: It was late.
And if you've stuck with him all this time in Fantasy, it's because you've hoped for a similar turnaround this season -- maybe something a little sooner, but just as definitive. Given the latest turn of events, though, I'm not holding my breath.
Verlander's shoulder hurts. It hurt before Monday's game at Pittsburgh, and it hurt during it. And if those four earned runs in one inning of work are any indication, it hurt bad. But here's the interesting part: It didn't affect his average fastball velocity, which was about the same as in his previous start.
Of course, it's been down all year, and even more so recently, which makes me wonder if his shoulder has been at less than full strength all along. The Tigers say it's only inflammation, but isn't that more of a symptom than an injury? Granted, in most cases of inflammation in a shoulder, it ends up being just that, but given Verlander's downfall, I can't help but wonder if something else is at work there.
In my latest post to the Fantsay Baseball Today blog, I discussed the possibility of releasing Verlander, and though I'd tend to shy away from it, I don't think it's the craziest move you could make.