Justin Verlander Secures First Win of 2025 Season with Giants

Justin Verlander, the future Hall of Famer, marked a significant milestone in his illustrious career by clinching his first win of the 2025 MLB season. This victory came during the San Francisco Giants’ convincing 9-3 triumph over the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta.

A Long-Awaited Victory

• Verlander’s Record: Until now, Verlander had experienced an unusual winless streak of 16 starts in his first season with the Giants, making it the longest stretch without a win in a single season in franchise history.
• Career Win: With this victory, Verlander’s career wins total climbed to 263, his first win since September 28 of the previous season when he played for the Houston Astros.

“It’s been a tough stretch for me, physically and on the mound a bit,” Verlander commented post-game. “Hopefully this can get the ball rolling in the right direction.”

Performance Details

On Wednesday, Verlander showcased his skills:

• Innings Pitched: He successfully completed five innings.
• ERA Improvement: His season ERA dropped to 4.70 after this stellar performance against the Braves.

Facing Adversity

Despite the win, Verlander faced challenges during the game. As he approached the five-inning mark, rain began to fall, creating concern about a possible interruption.

“I didn’t know. I figured something like that would happen,” he shared, acknowledging the stress of the situation. “This would be the game that gets rained out or we have a two-hour delay, and they don’t let me go back out.”

Celebrating the Win

In light of his well-deserved victory, Verlander revealed plans to celebrate. He received a thoughtful gift from teammates: a bottle of wine to commemorate the occasion.

“A couple of the guys got me a nice bottle of wine as a congrats, which feels great, so I’ll probably have a little bit of that,” he shared with a smile. “I’m happy to be able to contribute, finally.”

Active Wins Leader

Verlander, now in his 20th MLB season, continues to demonstrate his prowess on the mound. Remarkably, he leads active pitchers in career wins, holding 46 more victories than the next closest contender, Max Scherzer (217 wins).

Conclusion

Verlander’s journey with the Giants may have gotten off to a rocky start, but this victory is a significant stepping stone as he aims to close the season on a high note. As he looks forward to the remainder of the 2025 season, fans and sports analysts alike will eagerly anticipate his continued performances.

For updates on Justin Verlander and the Giants, stay tuned to MLB.com for the latest news.