MLB Power Rankings: Top 25 players in the game today

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 09: Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) during an at bat in the second inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers played on April 9, 2019 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – APRIL 19: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros throws against the Texas Rangers in the first inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on April 19, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

20. Justin Verlander

After a blazing start to his MLB career that saw him win American League Rookie of the Year, Cy Young, MVP and make the All-Star Game six times before the end of his age-30 season, right-hander Justin Verlander ran into a brick wall that threatened to limit his ability to keep up his lofty standards. Verlander was easily on track to end up in the Hall of Fame after the first eight seasons of his career, but he would pitch to a modest 20-20 record in 2014 and 2015 with a 4.08 ERA, flagging velocity and only 7.2 strikeouts per nine.

Verlander was 32 entering the 2016 season, and with four more seasons left on his 10-year deal, the Detroit Tigers were prepared to ride out the rest of the contract with the shell of a former ace clogging their payroll and hampering their efforts to rebuild. Instead, Verlander got healthy and embraced modern analytics, leading to a return to dominance. He went 16-9 with a 3.04 ERA in 2016 and struck out over 10 per-nine for the first time since 2009.

The Tigers were able to flip Verlander’s contract to the Houston Astros, and he has benefited even more from being in a sabermetrically-inclined organization. Since joining the Astros, he is 25-9 with a 2.36 ERA and 11.9 strikeouts per-nine. Verlander struck out nearly 300 men in his first full season with the Astros and has also been dominant in the postseason, claiming ALCS MVP honors in 2017 by recording two wins and striking out 21 in 16 innings.

Now 36 and signed through 2021 with Houston, Verlander is back on track for the Hall of Fame. He topped 200 wins last season and is not looking back, off to another hot start. What a difference a few years makes.

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