Justin Verlander is 36 years old today.

the moment he formally surpasses the threshold of 40 rather than 30, He becomes further away from his greatest physical self as the day draws closer to middle age. Yet you wouldn't ever know it.

Pitcher Brad Peacock, who is lounging on one of the brown leather couches in the centre of the Houston Astros' spring training clubhouse, yells "Happy birthday." On February 20, at 8:16 in the morning, Verlander had just walked into the locker room in south Florida. He is an alpha-dog presence while wearing a powder blue collared shirt and navy shorts.

With a wide, sly grin, Verlander exclaims, "Twenty-seven again!" While if Peacock is the target of the remark, he speaks loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.