We may have to ask Justin Verlander to leave the premises after this season.

Of course, he still has half a campaign to make his case. But the legendary right-hander—whose Hall of Fame bust was secured years ago—doesn’t appear to have much tread left on the tires.

Verlander is winless in 13 starts for the San Francisco Giants this season as he takes the mound Friday against the Athletics in West Sacramento, California.

Now 42 years old, Verlander is 0–5 with a 4.26 ERA. He’s allowed 69 hits and 25 walks in 67 2/3 innings for a 1.389 WHIP. He also missed a month with a pectoral injury.

This isn’t the same pitcher who went 18–4 with a 1.75 ERA and 0.829 WHIP for the Houston Astros in 2022. It’s certainly not the same ace who won American League MVP and Cy Young honors in 2011 with the Detroit Tigers or who earned additional Cy Youngs with Houston in 2019 and 2022.

Verlander also has two World Series rings from his time with the Astros. His résumé includes 262 career victories, 3,471 strikeouts and nine All-Star selections.

But here in July 2025, this isn’t even the version of Verlander who won 31 games combined over the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

The older an athlete gets, the quicker the skills can vanish.

When Verlander ended the 2023 season with 257 career wins, joining the elusive 300-win club felt within reach. Retirement wasn’t on the table. Not many pitchers win 31 games over two seasons in today’s game. He seemed to have more in the tank.

But since then, he’s added just five wins in 1 1/2 seasons. All of them came last year, when he made 17 starts while battling a neck injury.

Perhaps the most telling moment came when the Astros left Verlander off their playoff roster.

The Giants took a calculated gamble on the veteran ace—and it still could pay off.

Verlander remains optimistic he’s close to a breakthrough. He knows the big zero in the win column isn’t encouraging.

“You just try to pitch better, and hopefully the wins will follow,” Verlander said this week, per The Athletic. “You’ve got to be pretty objective. Yeah, I’ve given us some chances. But I need to pitch better. I do think I’m capable of that. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t still be playing.”

He was sharp in his last start, allowing one run on five hits over six innings in a no-decision against the White Sox.

It marked the fifth time he’s pitched six or more innings this year—but he’s also lasted five or fewer in six starts.

That’s not the Verlander we’ve long known.

Maybe he beats the A’s on Friday. Maybe he finds a late-season rhythm. Maybe he logs more innings and takes pressure off the bullpen as the Giants push for a playoff spot.

And there’s no question Verlander brings immense value when it comes to leadership—preparation, professionalism, mentorship. He’s the kind of guy any pitching staff benefits from having around.

But franchises don’t pay pitchers $15 million to be great teammates. They’re paid to get hitters out. They’re paid to produce.

And we’re nearing the point where Verlander’s ability to produce is no longer a given.

Think about it: 38 more wins to get to 300. That would require at least three more strong years—into 2028 or 2029, when he’d be 45 or 46.

Hey, Justin—it’s been an incredible ride. You’re one of the greatest pitchers of this century. A legend.

But when the offseason arrives, it may be time—respectfully—for you to leave the premises.