Verlander delivered seven scoreless innings with eight strikeouts, showing the veteran form that fantasy managers crave. Despite the dominant start, the Giants failed to capitalize offensively and watched a late-inning lead evaporate, underscoring the risk-reward dynamics of trusting SF’s offense and bullpen in tight games.

Verlander reached 3,500 strikeouts, sealing his place among elite company. His durability remains the centerpiece of fantasy discussions when he’s healthy, with his current form and aging curve shaping roster decisions and weekly starts.

Verlander is the focal point, a borderline pensioned athlete by age but still a high-strikeout, high-ceiling pitcher whose milestone 3,500 strikeouts anchors a career of elite levels. His current Giants stint and stated intent to pitch in 2026 keep him in fantasy radar as a controllable risk-reward asset.

Verlander is focused on extending his pitching career into 2026, stressing health and a continued ability to attack hitters with elite stuff. His major milestone—3,503 strikeouts and counting—could push him toward passing Walter Johnson. He remains one of the last of his generation, alongside Scherzer and Kershaw, pursuing further longevity with a possible one-year deal.

Verlander joined an exclusive 3500-strikeout club, becoming the 10th pitcher to reach the milestone. The milestone occurred in Oracle Park against Washington, capping a storied career that spans Detroit, Houston, and San Francisco. At 42, velocity remains elite, with a 94.1 mph four-seamer on average and occasional 97–98 mph bursts, supported by a still-usable slider and curve. The arc reflects an era-defined endurance and competitive fire.