Watch: Justin Verlander throws ball off leg in funny blunder

Justin Verlander lightened the mood on Wednesday night with a funny defensive play in Game 2 of the World Series against the Washington Nationals.

The Houston Astros starter had a 1-2 count on Ryan Zimmerman in the top of the fourth inning of a 2-2 game and got Zimmerman to hit a weak chopper to the third base side of the mound. Verlander went to the ground to try fielding the ball and tried to make a throw to first, but the ball bounced off his leg.

Justin Verlander, Throwing the Ball into His Own Leg, Mechanics pic.twitter.com/9Xo3Jnz9Zm

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 24, 2019

As silly as that looked, Verlander should probably be grateful he blocked his own throw. From his angle, who knows where the ball would have gone otherwise and how many bases Zimmerman might have gotten as a result.

Verlander got the next two batters out to end the half inning, maintaining the tie. The throw off the leg ended up being nothing more than a funny blunder.