Even though he didn’t have his best stuff Saturday, Tigers ace Justin Verlander became major league baseball’s first pitcher to win 20 games in 2011 after a 6-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
He becomes the first Tiger to win 20 since Bill Gullickson did it in 1991, however what’s even more impressive is that Verlander still has six starts remaining for himself this season AND he managed to get his 20th in before the month of the September.
With that said Verlander is the first Tiger since Mickey Lolich in 1971 to win 20 before September 1st and the first pitcher in the Majors since Curt Schilling in 2002. If you want to break it down even further, Verlander is the first pitcher in the American League to win 20 since Roger Clemens did it for Toronto in 1997.
“I hope he wins the MVP,” said manager Jim Leyland, “because that’ll mean he really did well the rest of the way.”
Now giving up 4 runs through 6 innings isn’t terrible for your everyday pitcher, however Justin Verlander isn’t your everyday pitcher. What these standards have become for the Tigers’ ace is one hell of a measuring stick that Verlander has created for himself and having 20 wins before September 1st is just another reason why he should get that consideration for the American League MVP.
Source: Detroit News
