RADIO
There was a time when Justin Verlander was untouchable. After being one of the most dominant SPs in the American League from 2009-2012, things took an unfortunate turn. He saw a drop in velocity in both 2013 and 2014, and battled health issues for a good part of both seasons. Many detractors thought Verlander's best days were behind him and that he was merely a shell of the pitcher he used to be.
Verlander spent much of the first half of 2015 on the DL and was inconsistent in his first handful of starts when he finally returned. But in the second half of the season, Verlander looked as good as he ever has, cruising to a 2.80 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 8.3 K/9 IP over 103 IP in that time frame. He used his slider more than ever, and was able to reach back and fire fastballs in the upper 90s when needed--something he hadn't done in years.
Verlander has been healthy for the entire offseason, something that hasn't been true for the last few seasons. Entering 2016 at 100% and coming off a second half that can only be described as Vintage Verlander, he figures to be a true force in the AL this year. I would not hesitate to draft him in the mid-rounds as a nice SP sleeper, as he could be an absolute steal in your upcoming fantasy draft.
