Astros announce Verlander as Opening Day starter
Justin Verlander will make his 10th Opening Day start but first as a member of the Houston Astros, as manager A.J. Hinch announced Monday the 35-year-old ace will get the ball March 29 against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park.
Verlander will become the third active pitcher to get to double-digit Opening Day starts, joining a club comprised of CC Sabathia and Felix Hernandez, and will become just the 18th pitcher in MLB history to accomplish the feat 10 or more times.
Prior to getting dealt to the Astros before the trade deadline last season, Verlander made nine starts on Opening Day with the Detroit Tigers over 10 seasons from 2008-2017.
Verlander's 2018 start will snap a three-year streak held by left-handed starter and 2015 Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel.
In 206 innings between two teams, Verlander posted a 3.36 ERA and 3.84 FIP helped substantially by a resurgence with the eventual World Series champions. In five regular-season starts, Verlander went 5-0 with a 1.06 ERA and 2.69 FIP.
The six-time All-Star owns a 3.46 lifetime ERA over 385 career starts. In his previous nine Opening Day tilts, Verlander is 2-1 with six no-decisions.