Justin Verlander Announces Retirement After Current Season

Justin Verlander announced Wednesday that he will retire after the current season. The 43-year-old pitcher ends a career that included multiple 20-win seasons and more than 250 innings pitched in 2011.

starting pitchers Verlander’s retirement leaves one member of a pitching group that also included Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer. Kershaw, 37, retired after last fall’s World Series. Scherzer, 41, has posted a 10.23 ERA in six starts this season while dealing with back injuries.

The three pitchers compiled career statistics that rank among the highest single-season innings totals for active pitchers. Verlander once managed his effort early in games to work deeper into outings, but later adopted the max-effort approach now standard among starting pitchers.

Fame evaluation Verlander’s retirement also ends his pursuit of 300 career wins. He had stated a goal of pitching until age 45. The shift away from high-innings workloads means future starting pitchers will compile different career totals than those recorded by Verlander, Kershaw and Scherzer.

Current pitchers on pace for high win totals include relievers such as Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Aaron Ashby. Verlander’s final season marks the close of an era defined by dominant starting pitchers who regularly worked deep into games.