HOUSTON — It had been 1,078 days since Justin Verlander pitched in a postseason game, the last time being Game 6 of the 2019 World Series.
After missing the 2020 and ‘21 postseasons due to Tommy John surgery, the Astros’ ace finally returned to the playoff stage Tuesday afternoon to face the Mariners in Game 1 of the American League Division Series, and he made history while doing it.
With three strikeouts over four innings against Seattle, Verlander passed Clayton Kershaw for the most strikeouts in postseason history with 208. Kershaw is scheduled to pitch Game 2 of the Dodgers’ National League Division Series matchup with the Padres on Wednesday and could very well pass Verlander.
Verlander entered the ALDS having thrown 11 consecutive scoreless innings to cap off a stellar regular season in which he posted an MLB-best 1.75 ERA, the lowest for a qualified AL pitcher in a non-shortened season since Pedro Martinez in 2000.
Despite notching three strikeouts to pass Kershaw, Verlander allowed two hits, one walk and one run in the first inning against the Mariners. Verlander had allowed only six first-inning runs in the regular season, four of which came in one game against Seattle on May 27.
Verlander’s struggles didn’t end there. He allowed three runs in the second inning and two more in the fourth before Bryan Abreu took over in the fifth. J.P. Crawford’s homer in the fourth was the first allowed by Verlander since July 23. The right-hander didn’t allow a home run over his final 58 2/3 regular-season innings.
Verlander finished his start allowing six runs on 10 hits and one walk over four innings, striking out three. The six runs he surrendered are the second most he’s allowed in a postseason outing, with the most being seven in Game 1 of the 2006 World Series.