Justin Verlander: 4 Reasons He Will Throw a Perfect Game in 2012

In 2011, Justin Verlander became the first pitcher to win the MVP award since Roger Clemens in 1986. He won the pitching version of the triple crown by leading the league in wins (24), strikeouts (250), and ERA (2.40).

Perhaps more impressively, Verlander threw another no-hitter, which means he has already achieved two no-hit complete games before he turned 29.

With his repertoire and competitiveness, there is no doubt he will complete at least one more before his career is over. I am predicting he will not only get it done this season, but it will also be a perfect game. Here are four reasons why.

No. 1: His Stuff Is Really, Really Good

Justin Verlander regularly pushes three digits with his four-seam fastball. He is able to maintain that velocity through the game, notably during his no-hitter last season when he touched 99 in the last inning. He also features a two-seamer that has incredible tailing movement.

Verlander really keeps the hitters uncomfortable with his 12-6 sharp curveball, which forces many weakly batted balls or called strikes.

As if he really needs it, Verlander also throws a change up, which sits in the mid 80's, just a few MPH slower than the fastball of most pitchers.

Some pitchers just miss no-hitters because their luck runs out, but Verlander is good enough that hitters just can not take comfortable hacks against him and he limits base runners.

No.2: He Has Also Been Very Lucky

Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated wrote a thought provoking article stating that Justin Verlander was the recipient of unsustainable luck in 2011, which is why he experienced such success. The logic to that theory is that Verlander's batting average on balls in play was the second lowest in the league at .237.

Historically, that figure will be around .300. Any time a pitcher has a figure higher, it usually means he will see an improvement the next season, and vice versa.

In the case of Verlander, he forces so much weak contact because his command and velocity is extraordinary. When the ball is put in play on him, there might not be a 30% chance it gets through because it is usually not hit with much conviction.

He has accumulated terrific numbers because he locates incredibly well. In 2011, he walked only 2.04 per 9 innings, and struck out 8.96, which means he limits the balls put in play and gives him a greater chance of recording 27 outs without a base runner.

No. 3: He Is a Workhorse

While many pitchers in this generation are put on a strict 100 pitch count, Verlander routinely eclipses that mark.

In fact, in 2011, there was not a game that he did not throw 100 pitches. For that reason, he averaged 7.4 innings per start, and threw four complete games.

There was not a no-hitter in baseball from May of 2004 until September of 2006. Partly, because no-hitters are difficult and rare, but also because pitchers were not completing many games, which put the game in the hands of the bullpen.

Verlander is not afraid to throw 130 pitches, which he did in the playoffs last season.

Aside from pitches in a game, Verlander threw nearly 4,000 pitches in 2011, which was the most since Livan Hernandez in 2005.

Simply put, he gives himself an opportunity to go deep into every game, and has the untouchable stuff to hold a team hitless.

No. 4: White Sox, Orioles, Mariners, Blue Jays, Athletics, Indians

Fifteen of Verlander's thirty-three starts came against the bottom half of the American League offenses in terms of batting average. Every team was at .252 or below, with Seattle coming in 32nd at an abysmal .233. Pitching against those offenses certainly helped some of his numbers.

Verlander will be facing those teams roughly the same amount of times. Figuring that those offenses will be in the same vicinity this year, Verlander has a great chance of throwing a perfect game.

When all these reasons are combined with the fact that the Tigers are hungry to capture a World Series title this season, that may be all the ingredients needed for a Verlander perfect game.