Pedro Martinez’s jaw-dropping Justin Verlander admission will catch Astros fans’ attention

Said Pedro, “This guy’s even better than I was.”

It’s a bold claim, as Pedro was the most dominant pitcher of his era. In 18 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and Philadelphia Phillies, Martinez had a 219-100 record with a 2.93 ERA and 3,153 strikeouts. He earned three Cy Young Awards, led the league in strikeouts three times, and in ERA five times.

Verlander carries a 258-141 record into Tuesday’s start against the Yankees. In 19 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, and New Yok Mets, Verlander has a 3.23 ERA and 3,355 strikeouts. He also has three Cy Young Awards to his name, has led the league in strikeouts five times, and ERA once. Verlander also was named AL MVP in 2011.

Justin Verlander back with Astros

Verlander was sidelined with right shoulder inflammation and did not appear in a spring training game for the Astros. The 41-year-old made two rehab starts in the minor leagues, scattering 14 hits and 11 earned runs across seven innings of work.

After dealing with the injury, Verlander has made three starts for the Astros before Tuesday’s outing. He’s thrown 17.1 innings on the year, allowing 14 hits and racking up 13 strikeouts. His ERA so far this season is a sparkling 2.08.

Verlander posted a 3.31 ERA in 11 starts with the Astros last season after Houston acquired him from the New York Mets in a trade. He followed it with a 2.95 ERA in 18.1 innings across three playoff starts. The Astros were eliminated in the ALCS by the eventual World Series champion Texas Rangers.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner is in the second year of a two-year contract. The deal also carries a vesting option worth $35 million for 2025 if Verlander pitches 140 innings this season.

Despite the Astros getting off to a horrid 12-22 start this season, the team isn’t looking to trade Verlander – as Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

‘It’s time to stop the speculation that the Houston Astros would trade Cy Young winner Justin Verlander at the trade deadline if they are out of the race. Verlander has a complete no-trade clause, and loves playing in Houston. He already utilized his no-trade clause to steer the Mets into trading him last summer to Houston instead of elsewhere. The Mets were in deep trade discussions last summer involving Verlander with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners and Tampa Bay Rays, but Verlander informed the Mets that he wouldn’t approve a trade unless it was Houston.’

Hopefully, a healthy Verlander can get the Astros back on the winning track.