Justin Verlander is still peak Justin Verlander, even at 39 years of age. But I’m starting to think that when they grafted a new ligament into his elbow during his Tommy John surgery, they got the new ligament from the arm of Greg Maddux. Because even though Verlander still throws 95 MPH heat, he seems to have developed command almost on par with the great Atlanta Braves Hall of Famer.
Verlander got through eight innings throwing only 89 pitches, 63 for strikes. Verlander did not surrender a hit until Gio Urshela robbed him of the no-hitter with one out in the eighth.