There are few pitchers you’d rather have on the mound when facing elimination in the playoffs than Justin Verlander.
Verlander ran his scoreless innings streak during playoff elimination games to 24 after shutting out the New York Yankees for seven innings during Game 6 of the ALCS on Friday night.
The Houston Astros’ right-handed pitcher entered Game 6 having thrown 17 straight scoreless innings in elimination games.
In Game 5 of the 2012 ALDS against the Oakland A’s, Verlander pitched a complete game four-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts in a 6-0 win to help his Tigers advance. The following year, Verlander was just as good as he shutout the A’s for eight innings and struck out 10 allowing two hits in an ALDS Game 5 win.
This year, Verlander went seven scoreless allowing five hits while striking out eight against the Yanks. He joined some good company with his third scoreless effort in an elimination game during the playoffs.
Justin Verlander joins John Smoltz as the only pitchers to make three scoreless starts when facing elimination in MLB postseason history. pic.twitter.com/Vq0Wn3CCi4
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 21, 2017
