Verlander's second-half surge was somewhat misleading. He posted a 4.70 ERA in 76.2 innings before the break compared to a 2.99 mark over 75.1 innings afterward, though the corresponding xFIPs were nearly identical. To his credit, the veteran increased his strikeout rate and allowed fewer home runs down the stretch, but the primary driver of the improved ERA was a substantial jump in his left-on-base rate. Verlander intends to continue pitching, and while his Hall of Fame résumé and sub-4.00 ERA in two of the past three seasons are appealing, caution is warranted. His best xFIP since 2023 is 4.56, and it has reached as high as 5.13. Read Past Outlooks