The Great Justin Verlander Inning-by-Inning

Like so many great pitchers, you want to get to Justin Verlander early before he establishes his rhythm and gets into controlling the batter and at bats.

Take a look at Verlander's 2012 inning-by-inning results

Split	IP	ER	ERA	PA	AB	R	H	HR	BB	SO	BA
1st inning	33.0	15	4.09	139	120	16	28	4	15	31	.233
2nd inning	33.0	7	1.91	128	124	7	26	0	4	33	.210
3rd inning	33.0	10	2.73	132	121	10	25	3	8	35	.207
4th inning	33.0	15	4.09	135	124	17	32	4	10	32	.258
5th inning	33.0	9	2.45	130	124	12	31	5	6	31	.250
6th inning	31.2	3	0.85	125	116	4	20	0	7	24	.172
7th inning	21.1	5	2.11	90	83	8	18	3	6	24	.217
8th inning	15.0	1	0.60	52	50	1	6	0	2	23	.120
9th inning	5.1	5	8.44	25	22	3	6	0	2	6	.273
Innings 1-3	99.0	32	2.91	399	365	33	79	7	27	99	.216
Innings 4-6	97.2	27	2.49	390	364	33	83	9	23	87	.228
Innings 7-9	41.2	11	2.38	167	155	12	30	3	10	53	.194

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/23/2012.

However, when you are dealing with major league batters you are dealing with pros who make adjustments. You can see that particularly the second time Verlander faces a batter.

But, what makes Verlander one of the greats of the game is his ability to move into a whole new gear as the game progresses and become an even more effective pitcher the third time the batter faces him.

Take a look at plate appearances:

Split	PA	AB	R	H	HR	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
1st PA in G, as SP	303	275	19	55	4	23	82	.200	.260	.320	.580
2nd PA in G, as SP	296	280	28	74	10	13	66	.264	.298	.411	.709
3rd PA in G, as SP	276	256	22	48	5	17	63	.188	.246	.285	.532
4th+ PA in G, as SP	81	73	9	15	0	7	28	.205	.284	.233	.517

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/23/2012.

As you can see, if Verlander faces a batter a fourth time, he is tremendously effective  but what you really must marvel at is his control. Of the 81 fourth time in a game plate appearances, Verlander only issued seven walks.

If you really want to be impressed check out Verlander's fastball, inning-by-inning

• Verlander threw 275 1st inning fastballs, averaging 93.5 mph and maxing out at 99.1.
• Verlander threw 242 2nd inning fastballs, averaging 93.9 mph and maxing out at 98.6.
• Verlander threw 259 3rd inning fastballs, averaging 94.2 mph and maxing out at 98.1.
• Verlander threw 275 4th inning fastballs, averaging 95.0 mph and maxing out at 101.4.
• Verlander threw 257 5th inning fastballs, averaging 94.9 mph and maxing out at 100.4.
• Verlander threw 225 6th inning fastballs, averaging 94.8 mph and maxing out at 100.0.
• Verlander threw 166 7th inning fastballs, averaging 95.3 mph and maxing out at 100.7.
• Verlander threw 118 8th inning fastballs, averaging 96.0 mph and maxing out at 101.5.
• Verlander threw 58 9th inning fastballs, averaging 97.0 mph and maxing out at 100.3.

Yes, you are reading that correctly. Verlander threw heat from the start but was throwing harder at the end.

Grouped by innings:

• Innings 1-3: Verlander threw 776 fastballs, averaging 93.9 mph and maxing out at 99.1.
• Innings 4-6: Verlander threw 757 fastballs, averaging 94.9 mph and maxing out at 101.4.
• Innings 7-9: Verlander threw 342 fastballs, averaging 95.8 mph and maxing out at 101.5.

An aspect of Verlander's greatness is his ability to mix location, accuracy, with a variance of speed.

Overall, this regular season:

• Verlander threw 1875 fastballs, averaging 94.6 mph and maxing out at 101.5.
• Verlander threw 839 change-ups, averaging 86.7 mph and maxing out at 91.0.
• Verlander threw 579 curveballs, averaging 79.4 mph and maxing out at 86.3.
• Verlander threw 466 sliders, averaging 84.6 mph and maxing out at 90.8.