Now isn't a good time to face Houston ace Justin Verlander

Justin Verlander

Justin Verlander has started 45 games in his career against the White Sox. He's won 22, lost 13 and been more good than bad against the South Siders during his 15-year career.

But I'm not sure he's ever had a better start against the Sox in all those years than the one he had Tuesday night.

Verlander took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. He ended up working eight innings, allowing one run on one hit in the Houston Astros' 5-1 win over the Sox.

The right-hander struck out 12, walked only one and induced 28 swinging strikes from Sox batters -- 14 on sliders, 10 on fastballs and four on curveballs. For context, 28 swinging strikes is the most against a pitcher in any Major League game this season. He was dominant.

Verlander is now 8-1 with a 2.24 ERA this season. Over his past three starts, he's allowed only four hits in 22 innings -- all wins. He's struck out 29, walked five and allowed two runs (both on solo home runs) during that same span.

The Sox got their lone run and lone hit on a solo home run Tuesday on a blast by Jose Abreu, who strangely has Verlander's number.

In 41 career at-bats coming into Tuesday, Abreu had a .366/.435/.780 slash line with five home runs against Verlander. Make it six home runs. Abreu has homered against Verlander more than any other pitcher in his career. (Corey Kluber is second; Abreu has taken him deep five times).

But in the context of his career numbers, maybe Abreu's 1-for-4 night against the Houston ace wasn't that great of a game.

Verlander has 212 wins in an accomplished career, but at age 36, I'm not sure he's ever been tougher to beat than he is right now.