Justin Verlander's Return to Houston Astros is Key to World Series Repeat

Justin Verlander has returned to the Houston Astros rotation and could be the key to them repeating as World Series champions.

When Justin Verlander left the Houston Astros after their World Series championship last season to take a big pay day with the New York Mets, it felt like the end of an era.

Despite pitching with the Detroit Tigers for 13 seasons and winning Rookie of the Year, a Cy Young and MVP award during his tenure, Verlander has felt like a staple of the Astros organization.

After all, he did win two Cy Youngs and two World Series championships during his six years with Houston.

But ultimately owner Jim Crane let him walk, not wanting to pay him as much as the Mets were willing to offer.

Then at the trade deadline with his team in a tight division race and not performing like prior seasons, he decided that he wanted his old ace back in his clubhouse.

With Verlander back in the rotation, MLB.com thinks they have a legit chance to win the World Series in back-to-back seasons.

Will Leitch wrote, "If Verlander remains Verlander, this is a terrifying postseason team. Again."

That seems like an undersell in many ways.

The Astros' hitting from top to bottom can go toe to toe with any roster in the league. When they get top pitching, they're virtually unbeatable.

Right now, the 40-year-old is playing his best baseball of the season.

In his last six starts he has a record of 4-1 with an ERA of 1.69.

Verlander seems to be the missing piece in a young, inexperienced rotation. If he can continue to play at the high level he's been at throughout his entire career, he'll be a major factor in Houston's repeat attempts.