We know full well that the Major League Baseball season is a marathon. Even then, it’s important for some key figures to start the season out strong.
Fresh off inking a two-year, $66 million extension with the Houston Astros, Justin Verlander apparently doesn’t fit under that category.
Taking on the Tampa Bay Rays on Opening Day, Verlander allowed a lead-off home run to Austin Meadows on just the fourth pitch he threw.
This is noteworthy in that Verlander allowed just 28 homers in 34 starts last season. Getting the call to lead off, Meadows hit six homers in stops with the Pirates and Rays last season.
For an Astros team looking to win the World Series this season, let’s hope this isn’t a harbinger of things to come.
The team’s rotation is top-heavy. It needs pitchers like Verlander to act the part of aces moving forward.