Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Astros' Justin Verlander earns MLB-best 12th victory; moves to 14th on all-time strikeout list

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 7/17/22

Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander has returned with a vengeance in 2022 after missing all of 2021 recovering from Tommy John surgery.

On Saturday, Verlander earned his MLB-best 12th victory of the season while also adding to his Hall of Fame resume.

Verlander helped lead the Astros to a 5-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics, posting 10 strikeouts while allowing just six hits over six scoreless innings.

Another successful #JVDay.

Today's @budweiserusa Player of the Game!#LevelUp pic.twitter.com/W4PzJK0o6J
— Houston Astros (@astros) July 16, 2022

Verlander's 10 punchouts on Saturday gave him 3,121 career strikeouts, moving him past Curt Schilling and Hall of Famer Bob Gibson.

Justin Verlander dots a 97mph Fastball, passing Bob Gibson on the All Time Strikeout Leaderboard. pic.twitter.com/YwLVTui57s
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 16, 2022

As the All-Star break nears, Verlander has to be the favorite for the American League Cy Young. The 39-year-old has a 12-3 record this season, with a 1.89 ERA over 17 starts.

After the game Saturday, Verlander told the media he was taking nothing for granted.

"I've said the word "perspective" here a lot, and I don't take it for granted," Verlander said. "I think in the past I took a lot of things for granted, my health and some success when I was young, certainly not since I've been an Astro. But I think age and going through some stuff has a way to help you grow up and realize some real positives that maybe you wouldn't have taken a moment to realize before."

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