At 42 years old, most professional athletes are winding down their careers or have already retired. But Justin Verlander, the San Francisco Giants’ seasoned right-hander, continues to defy expectations and age.
After a rocky start to his 2025 season, Verlander has turned things around in dramatic fashion, delivering a dominant run that has not only revived his campaign but also etched his name into the MLB history books alongside one of the game’s greats.
Verlander’s recent outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks was vintage form. He tossed seven scoreless innings, silencing Arizona’s bats and giving the Giants a critical chance in a tightly contested matchup.
Although he didn’t earn the win himself, neither team scored until the 11th inning, San Francisco eventually broke through with five runs in extras to claim a 5-1 victory. Verlander’s brilliance on the mound didn’t show up in the win column, but it undoubtedly set the tone for the team.
This start marked the fourth consecutive game in which Verlander allowed one run or fewer – a feat nearly unheard of for a pitcher over the age of 42. His current streak includes just one total earned run over four starts, a level of dominance that places him in extremely rare territory.
Matching a Hall of Famer’s historic run
According to MLB Network’s Sarah Langs, Verlander is now only the second pitcher in MLB history aged 42 or older to accomplish such a feat.
The only other pitcher to do it? None other than seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, who achieved the milestone in 2005 while pitching for the Houston Astros. That season, Clemens posted a stunning 1.87 ERA, proving that age is merely a number for the truly elite.
Verlander, who celebrated his 42nd birthday in February, did not appear destined for this kind of stretch earlier in the season. His ERA soared above 6.00 during the first few weeks, fueling speculation that his time at the top might finally be over. But the veteran has rebounded with poise and precision, gradually lowering his ERA to a much more respectable 3.75.
Now, as the Giants attempt to claw their way into playoff contention, Verlander is proving to be one of the key reasons they remain in the hunt. With teams like the New York Mets standing in their path for a Wild Card spot, every start, every inning, and every pitch matters. Verlander isn’t just filling a rotation spot, he’s anchoring it when it counts most.
What makes this achievement even more impressive is that it’s not simply a case of longevity. Plenty of pitchers have stuck around into their 40s, but few have managed to dominate opposing lineups consistently. Verlander’s current form is not just good “for his age”, it’s good by any standard. He’s controlling games, executing pitches, and giving his team a chance to win deep into September.
If Verlander continues at this level, the Giants might just find themselves in the postseason, and if they do, they’ll have their ageless ace to thank.
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