Everything was looking up for the Astros on Friday in Game 1 of the World Series. Justin Verlander was perfect his first time through the Phillies’ order, Kyle Tucker homered twice to help them build a five-run lead. The AL champs had the NL champs exactly where they wanted them.
But as the Phillies have proven all postseason, they have a penchant for hanging around.
In the top of the fourth inning, a Rhys Hoskins hit jump-started an improbable rally. After the next batter, J.T. Realmuto, made the second out of the inning, the next four Phillies reached base, plating three.
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In the fifth, Brandon Marsh led off with a double and Kyle Schwarber followed with a walk. Two batters later, Realmuto doubled them both in to erase the Astros’ lead. Verlander finished the inning, keeping the game at 5-5, and then was relieved by Bryan Abreu to begin the sixth.
The @Phillies have stormed back to tie it!!! 😱 #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/xVazARphGb
— MLB (@MLB) October 29, 2022
It was an improbable turn of events for Verlander, who looked to have every bit of the stuff that will win him the Cy Young once MLB awards are handed out in mid-November. Of the Phillies’ six hits in those two innings, four were on breaking balls (two sliders, two curveballs).
The sudden change also reinforced a nagging narrative around the 39-year-old star.
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What are Justin Verlander’s World Series stats?
For a pitcher with Verlander’s pedigree, his World Series numbers aren’t even pedestrian; they’re downright bad.
After Friday, he has a 6.07 ERA to go with an 0-6 record in eight World Series starts (his team was 1-6 in the first seven games). The first three starts were on Tigers teams that were severely overmatched by their NL opponents, but the next five have been with the Astros.
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The overall postseason numbers are far better.
For his career, Verlander has a 3.69 postseason ERA to go with a 15-11 record. He has an MLB-record 224 strikeouts, to 64 walks.
With his no-decision Friday, Verlander remains 0-6 in the World Series. The ace has the most starts in World Series history without recording a win.