When you think of Justin Verlander, you think of dominance, Cy Young awards, and championship pedigree. But this season? Justin Verlander’s season has been nothing short of a nightmare. The San Francisco Giants veteran ace remains winless at 0-7 with a 4.70 ERA, and his latest outing against the Philadelphia Phillies only added salt to the wound.

The 42-year-old’s struggles continued as the Giants suffered a crushing 13-0 defeat, marking his seventh loss of the campaign despite what many consider manageable performances.

The post-injury performance tells a tale of bad luck more than declining ability. Verlander was out a month because of a strained right pectoral muscle, and his return hasn’t been smooth sailing. He was 0-3 before he went on the IL, making his current winless streak even more frustrating.

Verlander’s 67 strikeouts and ability to still throw 97mph suggest the arm strength is there, but the results simply aren’t following. His 1.42 WHIP indicates he’s putting runners on base. But many of his starts have been solid enough to warrant better outcomes if his team could provide run support and reliable bullpen work.

Enter Ben Verlander, Justin’s brother and MLB analyst, who couldn’t hold back his frustration in a post on X. “I’m going to vent. Yes, it’s my brother. Yes, I’m biased. But Justin’s stats 100% do not tell the story of this season,” he wrote. “He’s had many very good starts with truly some of the worst luck I’ve ever seen. It makes no sense to me. Really frustrating to watch. He’s still throwing 97mph with nasty off speed.”

Well, over six innings, even though Verlander gave up four runs on seven hits, it was some of his best work when he tweaked his mechanics in between starts. His 96.9 four-seam fastball allowed no walks, struck out seven, and generated 16 swinging strikes. And that was his second-most in a single start in 2025.

But the Giants failed to deliver! Matt Chapman committed two throwing errors, contributing to the team’s total of three. And they could collect only three hits, finally ending up with the three-game sweep.

But even after all these, Justin Verlander remains philosophical, focusing on process over results. “I try not to be results-oriented so much with wins or losses or a certain stat I’m looking to achieve,” he explained. “It’s more focused on being deceived by the hitter and feeling I can consistently get them out and fool them. That’s our job.”

He’s been “searching a lot” while working rigorously on his stuff with an optimism that his mechanical adjustments will lead to a strong second half. But while Verlander focuses on personal improvement, the Giants’ front office might be looking at more immediate solutions.

Giants face Verlander dilemma at trade deadline

Maybe there’s an argument to be made that Justin Verlander has been a bit unlucky this season. Since June 1, Verlander’s ERA has ballooned to 6.27 – a figure that simply isn’t good enough if the Giants want to pursue a playoff spot. With the MLB trade deadline fast approaching, San Francisco has to give legitimate thought to finding someone out there who is better than what Verlander is providing right now.

ESPN’s MLB insider Jeff Passan has a suggestion that might sting Giants fans. Merrill Kelly of the Arizona Diamondbacks. “Kelly represents a significant upgrade over the Giants’ backend rotation options, as Justin Verlander and Hayden Birdsong are sporting ERAs of 6.27 and 5.73, respectively, since June 1,” Passan writes. The analyst points out that while the Giants made their big offensive move, acquiring Rafael Devers, their rotation still needs help.

The 36-year-old Kelly has been effective for Arizona, posting a sub-3.50 ERA in three of the last four seasons. Going 7-5 by midseason this year, he might not be a huge strikeout guy, but his stuff has aged well, and he consistently gets outs. And that can be a step up from Verlander’s current struggles!

For an organization seeking its first postseason series win in nearly a decade, the urgency is real. If the Giants can add Kelly, it will at least give them options in a rotation that could definitely use depth. The question remains whether they’re willing to admit that their veteran ace might need help to carry the load down the stretch.