HOUSTON — Houston Astros pitcher Justin Verlander was named American League Player of the Week for April 9 to April 15, Major League Baseball announced Monday.
It’s the seventh-career weekly award for the Astros ace and his first since 2012.
In his two starts last week, Verlander posted a 1-0 record and a 0.60 ERA, struck out 20 batters in his 15 innings pitched and allowed five hits and two walks. He led the AL in strikeouts and innings pitched for the week.
Verlander earned his win last Monday at Minnesota in which he pitched 7 scoreless innings in the Astros’ 2-0 victory over the Twins. In his second start of the week, he held the Texas Rangers to 1 run on 1 hit in 8 innings.
Verlander posts a 2-0 record and 1.35 ERA in his first four starts this season and ranks second among AL pitchers in strikeouts with 34, trailing only teammate Gerrit Cole, who has 36. He ranks second in the AL in innings pitched (26.2) and fifth in ERA and in WAR for pitchers.
