Verlander Faces Uphill Battle to 300 Wins

Giants' legend Randy Johnson last pitcher to reach milestone in 2009

Feb. 1, 2026 at 11:15am by Ben Kaplan

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It's been 17 years since a Major League pitcher reached 300 career wins, a feat last accomplished by Giants' legend Randy Johnson in 2009. Justin Verlander, at 43 years old, is the closest active pitcher to the 300-win mark, but may be running out of time to achieve the milestone. Verlander only earned 4 wins in 29 starts with the Giants last year, putting him at 266 career wins and needing 34 more to reach 300.

Why it matters

Reaching 300 career wins is an incredibly rare and prestigious accomplishment in baseball, with only 24 pitchers in MLB history achieving the feat. Verlander's potential pursuit of this milestone has captured the attention of baseball fans, but his advanced age and recent struggles raise questions about whether he can defy the odds and join the exclusive 300-win club.

The details

Verlander, who turns 43 later this month, is a future Hall of Famer who has enjoyed a storied career. However, his quest for 300 wins may be an uphill battle at this stage. After joining the Giants midway through the 2025 season, Verlander posted a 2.99 ERA in 14 starts, but only managed 4 wins. He now sits at 266 career wins, meaning he would need 34 more to reach the 300 mark. Experts believe this may require Verlander to pitch well into his 40s, similar to the longevity of pitchers like Jamie Moyer.

  • Randy Johnson reached 300 wins with the Giants in 2009.
  • Verlander turns 43 years old later this month.

The players

Justin Verlander

A future Hall of Fame pitcher who is the closest active player to reaching 300 career wins, a milestone last accomplished 17 years ago.

Randy Johnson

The legendary Giants pitcher who was the last MLB player to reach 300 career wins, accomplishing the feat in 2009.

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What they’re saying

“The problem for Verlander is he only earned four wins in 29 starts in San Francisco last year. That puts him at 266 for his career, meaning he needs 34 more wins to get to 300.”

— Tim Kelly, Bleacher Report Writer (Bleacher Report)

“At this stage of his career, that may require him pitching well into his 40s in a Jamie Moyer-esque manner. Given the amount of times Verlander's career seemed to be on the ropes only for him to emerge on the other side, we won't rule that out.”

— Tim Kelly, Bleacher Report Writer (Bleacher Report)

What’s next

Verlander remains unsigned as pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in less than two weeks. His future, including a potential return to the Giants, Astros, or Tigers, remains uncertain as he continues his pursuit of 300 career wins.

The takeaway

Verlander's quest to become just the 25th pitcher in MLB history to reach 300 career wins faces significant obstacles due to his advanced age and recent struggles. While his resilience and longevity have been remarkable, the statistical mountain he must climb to achieve this milestone is daunting, raising questions about whether he can defy the odds one more time before his storied career comes to a close.