The ageless wonder, the fine wine of pitching, Justin Verlander has done it all defeating any odds against him. Providing consistent seasons year after year. He’s proven he can still dominant even as he reaches his 40s. After all of baseball thought his career was over in 2020 when he had to have Tommy John surgery at 37 years old. Verlander came back stronger than ever. 

He had a resurgence of a season he would have back from Tommy John in 2022. At the age of 39 Verlander went 18-4, 1.75 ERA in 175 innings. He would end up taking the CY Young home for the AL league becoming one of the oldest pitchers ever to win the award. The spectacular season he had sealed him a 2 year contract with the Mets totaling $86,000,000.  The contract would end  after he turns 42. He is the 2nd oldest active starting pitcher, only behind to 43 year old RHP Rich Hill of the Pirates. Pitching into his 40s is where no ballplayer has ever gone before and to still be dominant is surprising. With the way things are evolving, he is looking to be the second coming of Nolan Ryan.

Sadly injuries have  hurt both of their times  and his teammate  Max Scherzer  are not  only the oldest pitching pair but also the richest. Both commanded the largest AAV contract in baseball. Injures have been a problem for both of them with their teams. Scherzer was down 3 times last year for arm tightness and Verlander was shutdown from baseball activities on Opening Day because he had a pinched nerve. 

It would take a month for Verlander to make his rehab start before his season debut and it electric. Verlander made his rehab start for the Rumble Ponies, the Mets Double-A minor league team and showed he is back to full health. Verlander went 6 innings, 6 strikeouts, no earned runs and just 2 hits. He is back and ready to boost the bewildered Mets rotation.  He set to make his debut against the team that started it all, the Detroit Tigers. 

All eyes are on Verlander as he prepares his ascent into the 2023 campaign,. The Mets have big shoes to fill with the loss of Jacob deGrom, the Mets need Verlander to prove not just them but all of baseball that he is worth the contract he was given. The Mets have serious expectations for this year, after an early exit in the 2022 playoffs. Hungry for more, the Mets are seeking redemption this October. There is no telling what the Mets could do with a healthy Verlander to pair with Scherzer at the top.  It will be the first time the two are in the same rotation since 2014 with the Tigers. 10 years later at the tail end of the careers and they still have a ton left in the tank.

 Verlander has overcome every challenge in his career, will Verlander step up to the plate and deliver when the Mets need it most or will the curse of the Mets tarnish the fine wine with injuries?