Top 25 MLB players to watch in October

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SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 05: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros smiles in the dugout after finishing the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners only giving up only one run at Safeco Field on September 5, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images) /

3. Justin Verlander

Justin Verlander’s first two starts with the Houston Astros have been nothing short of spectacular. The right-hander has given his new team 14 innings of one-run ball with 16 strikeouts. The initial shock of being traded away from the only team he ever played for has not appeared to phase Verlander, and he has been dealing in the second half.

Verlander struggled with his command in the first half, but he has been dialed in since the All-Star break. In 12 starts, he is 7-2 with a 2.10 ERA and is striking out 10.4 per nine with an opponents slash line of .180/.232/.239. Verlander has been even better than he was last year when he nearly won the AL Cy Young.

With the Detroit Tigers, Verlander’s pitching in the postseason was typically stellar. His only real hiccup came in the 2012 World Series where he was tagged for two home runs by Pablo Sandoval and five runs in four innings. Take that one ugly start out of the equation, and Verlander has a career ERA of 3.05 with well over a strikeout an inning.

The Astros were forced to go out and empty their farm system for Verlander due to the concerns over the health of Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers. He is the ace the team needed to push itself over the hump and navigate the postseason, where it is often much harder to score runs. Verlander’s career is already building towards a spot in the Hall of Fame, and he can further cement his place as an all-time great with a World Series trophy.

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