Justin Verlander had a dismal weekend series with the San Francisco Giants against the Toronto Blue Jays, particularly marked by a rough outing on Friday and an incident during Sunday’s game. Verlander struggled again, allowing four runs over just 2.2 innings pitched, leading to his eighth consecutive loss, leaving his record for the season at 0-8 with a 4.99 ERA.
The frustration peaked on Sunday when, during the sixth inning, umpire Chad Whitson expelled Verlander from the dugout after he voiced his displeasure regarding a pair of questionable strike calls against teammate Brett Wisely. Whitson, who struggled with his strike zone throughout the game, made 16 missed calls, with 12 of them adversely affecting the Giants. The situation escalated when Whitson, after making a late dismissal of Verlander, snidely remarked, “Justin, get out of here. How about you worry about getting out of the third inning, huh?”
Initially, there was confusion as the broadcast team mistakenly thought Giants manager Bob Melvin was the one ejected. However, it soon became apparent that Verlander was the player dismissed, indicating the heightened tensions during this challenging series.
Despite Verlander’s underwhelming performance, Melvin expressed respect for Verlander’s passion for the game, highlighting that players appreciate his investment regardless of the current struggles on the mound. While this year may not be turning out as planned for the veteran pitcher, there remains hope for a turnaround as the season progresses.
Verlander’s experience and leadership will be crucial for the Giants as they navigate through a difficult stretch. The team will look to support their star pitcher, emphasizing resilience in the face of adversity.