Justin Verlander's 2019 season stands out as a remarkable period in his illustrious career, marked by a series of significant milestones and accolades. During this year, he not only achieved his third career no-hitter but also reached the prestigious 3,000-strikeout mark. His exceptional performance culminated in him winning his second American League Cy Young Award, solidifying his status as one of baseball's elite pitchers. This season showcased
his enduring dominance and ability to perform at the highest level, contributing significantly to his team's success.
A Third No-Hitter and Historic Strikeout Milestone
On September 1, 2019, Verlander etched his name further into baseball history by pitching his third career no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. This was a particularly notable achievement, as it marked the second no-hitter for the Astros that season and the 13th in team history. In this dominant outing, Verlander allowed only one baserunner, a walk to Cavan Biggio in the first inning, and struck out 14 batters. The Astros secured the win with their only runs coming from a two-run home run by Abraham Toro in the ninth inning. This no-hitter was also his second against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, making him just the third pitcher in the modern era to no-hit the same team twice, and the first to do so against the same team on the road. He joined an exclusive group as the sixth pitcher to throw three or more no-hitters in his career.
Later that month, on September 28, Verlander reached another monumental career milestone by recording both his 3,000th career strikeout and his 300th strikeout of the season. This placed him alongside teammate Gerrit Cole as part of only the second duo of teammates to each register 300 strikeouts in a single season, a feat previously accomplished by Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling of the 2002 Arizona Diamondbacks. These achievements underscored his incredible longevity and effectiveness on the mound, demonstrating his ability to consistently overpower opposing hitters deep into his career.
Cy Young Recognition and League-Leading Statistics
Verlander's outstanding 2019 season was recognized with his second American League Cy Young Award. His statistical performance that year was exceptional across multiple categories. He led the American League in wins with 21, showcasing his ability to consistently secure victories for his team. Furthermore, he posted the lowest hits per nine innings (5.529) in the major leagues, indicating how difficult it was for batters to get hits off him. Batters hit a mere .171 against him, which was the lowest average in the major leagues, further highlighting his dominance.
His left on-base percentage of 88.4% was also the best in the majors, demonstrating his effectiveness at preventing baserunners from scoring. While he allowed the highest fly ball percentage of all major league pitchers (45.2%), which contributed to a career-high 36 home runs allowed, his overall performance was still overwhelmingly positive. His ability to lead in multiple key pitching metrics, combined with his historic milestones, made him the clear choice for the Cy Young Award, cementing 2019 as one of the most memorable seasons of his career.
