Justin Verlander Finally Gets a Win

Justin Verlander has managed to secure his first victory of the 2025 MLB season, breaking a lengthy streak without a win. On Wednesday, the San Francisco Giants faced off against the Atlanta Braves, and it marked a turnaround for Verlander.

In fact, Verlander (1-8) hadn’t earned a win in his first 16 starts with the Giants this year.

With this win, he notched the 263rd victory of his illustrious career, his first since last season when he was with the Astros.

At 42 years old, Verlander showed signs of aging this season, as he managed to lower his ERA to 4.70 after pitching five innings against the Braves on Wednesday.

“It’s been a challenging stretch both physically and on the mound,” Verlander shared with reporters. “I hope this will help turn things around.” It’s interesting to think about how much pressure he must have felt during that unyielding stretch.

Unfortunately, he faced some bad luck too. Just as he was on the verge of solidifying his victory, ominous clouds loomed overhead, and he worried a rain delay might stall the game. “I didn’t know what to expect. It felt like it would either rain or there would be a delay, and they might not come back,” he admitted.

Nevertheless, the veteran right-hander completed five innings, and the Giants won decisively at 9-3, finally lifting the burden off Verlander’s shoulders.

He expressed a sense of relief, stating that he’d celebrate once given the chance by his teammates. “Congratulations. It feels good, so I suppose you could say I’m a bit relieved,” Verlander noted. “I’m just happy to finally contribute.”

As he plays through his 20th MLB season, Verlander remains the winning active leader, boasting 46 more wins than the next pitcher in line, Max Scherzer, who has 217.