When the New York Mets lost the services of Jacob deGrom early in the offseason, they quickly pivoted to their plan B: Justin Verlander. The reigning Cy Young winner in the American left the Astros, where he had just helped the club win the World Series, to go to the Big Apple.
Let’s say the Mets gave him (almost) 87 million good reasons to join them for the next two years.
Now 40, Verlander is a big chunk of the Mets’ plans this season, but since the start of spring camp, it’s been tough. He doesn’t really have control over his shots and his fastball speed is plummeting (he’s approaching 92 miles per hour compared to throwing at 95 miles per hour last year).
And the starter does not hide it: he does not launch as he would like to do, so that he does not feel quite ready for the start of the campaign.
He still has time to find his bearings, clearly, but that’s certainly not what the Mets want to see, they who bet big on the pitcher who won the Cy Young in each of his last two full seasons.
Max Scherzer may be #1, but the Mets will need a Verlander at the top of his game in 2023.
Is age finally starting to catch up with him? It’s not completely to be ruled out, but it may just be going through a little slump. After all, he maintained a 1.75 ERA just a few months ago in the 2022 season.
That said, all is not lost for the Mets. Even if Verlander is having difficulties, Kodai Senga is starting to gain confidence in him.
He regained his composure with the strong comeback of his ghost ball, the name he gives to his sling ball.
In short, we will have to see how Verlander and Senga will be able to start the campaign, but the Mets will need the two gunners to throw at the height of their great talent.
It’s up to them to find ways to get there.
- Sergio Romo retired.
- Cardinals center fielder Tyler O’Neill.
- The Cubs will sign Nico Hoerner to a three-year contract.
