HOUSTON, TX - Astros All-Star right-handed pitcher Justin Verlander finished second in the 2018 American League Cy Young Award voting, as announced by the Baseball Writers Association of America tonight.
Verlander garnered 154 vote points, falling 15 points shy of the 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, who received 169 points. Verlander received 13 first-place votes, 13 second-place votes, three third-place votes and one fourth-place vote.
This marks the seventh time in Verlander's career that he has finished in the top-five of the AL Cy Young Award voting, and the third time he has finished second. He won the award in 2011, the same season that he received AL MVP honors, and finished fifth in 2017, second in 2016, second in 2012, third in 2009 and fifth in 2007.
At 35 years old, Verlander put together one of the most dominant seasons of his outstanding career in 2018, leading or finishing at the top of the leader boards among American League starters in several significant categories. He led all Major League pitchers in WHIP with an 0.90 clip, which marked the third-lowest number for an AL starter in the last 50 seasons (min. 175 IP). Additionally, Verlander led the AL in pitching WAR (6.8*), strikeouts (290), opponent on-base percentage (.242), strikeout to walk ratio (7.78) and road wins (12-2), and was second in innings pitched (214.0). He also ranked third in ERA (2.52) and opponent batting average (.200). Notable: Verlander posted a 16-9 won-loss record despite being ranked 46th in the Majors in run support average (4.25).  
DOWN THE STRETCH: Verlander was outstanding for the Astros down the stretch, posting a 4-0 mark in five September starts with a 1.09 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 33.0 innings of work, proving to be a central figure in helping Houston earn their second-straight AL West title. Verlander posted 10+ strikeouts in each of his final four starts of the season.  
VERLANDER'S 2018 AL RANKINGS
WHIP: 0.90 (1st in MLB)
Pitching WAR: 6.8* (1st)
Strikeouts: 290 (1st)
Innings Pitched: 214 (2nd)
Opp. OBP: .242 (1st)
Strikeout/Walk Ratio: 7.84 (1st)
Road Wins: 12-2 (1st)
ERA: 2.52 (3rd)
Opp. Avg.: .200 (3rd) 
*Per Fangraphs
MILESTONES, ACCOLADES: In 2018, Verlander hit two significant milestones, notching his 200th career victory on Aug. 19 at OAK, and his 2,500th career strikeout in a complete-game shutout on May 16 at LAA. Additionally, Verlander was an AL All-Star, won the AL Pitcher of the Month for May and was twice named AL Player of the Week. 
-ASTROS-