SF Giants Get Bad News in Chase of Dodgers as $15 Million Righty Heads to IL
The San Francisco Giants, winners of four of their last five games heading into Wednesday, suffered twin setbacks as they attempt to dethrone their longtime arch-rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the National League West. They lost their game Wednesday to the Kansas City Royals, while the Dodgers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks, pushing San Francisco to two games behind the reigning World Series champions in the divisional race.
But more importantly, the Giants lost their future Hall of Fame righty starter, Justin Verlander, for at least his next two scheduled starts.
The Giants signed the 20-year veteran to a one-year, $15 million contract during the offseason. Though Verlander is 42 years old, the oldest active player in MLB, he is only three years out from his third Cy Young Award win.
10th on the All-Time Career Strikeout Leaderboard
The second overall pick in the 2004 draft, out of Old Dominion, Verlander debuted for the Detroit Tigers the following year, though he made only two appearances in 2005.
In his rookie year of 2006, Verlander started 30 games and tied Kenny Rogers for the team lead in wins, compiling a 17-9 record and 3.63 ERA. He took home American League Rookie of the Year honors and helped propel the Tigers to their first World Series since 1984
