Justin Verlander vs Guardians

In his final regular-season start, Justin Verlander helped the Houston Astros secure a 4-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians, allowing three runs over six innings while striking out five. Verlander, who has struggled this season with a 5.48 ERA, showed improvement by completing six innings for the first time since May, raising questions about his postseason role. The Astros’ win solidified their position as the No. 3 seed in the American League playoffs, while the Guardians, now No. 2, will face the New York Yankees as the top seed. The game featured a three-run second inning for Houston, aided by rookie Zach Dezenzo’s key contributions. Despite a rocky start, Verlander managed to retire 10 of his last 13 batters, demonstrating resilience against a potent Guardians lineup. The Astros are now focused on preparing for the wild-card round with a mix of regulars and new pitching strategies.