It's Justin Verlander's 36th birthday.
The day he officially moves closer to 40 years old than 30. The day he creeps nearer to middle age and further away from the best physical version of himself. Not that you'd ever know it.
"Happy birthday," shouts pitcher Brad Peacock, who's seated on one of the tan leather couches in the middle of the Houston Astros' spring training clubhouse. It's 8:16 on a balmy south Florida morning, Feb. 20, and Verlander has just entered the locker room. Dressed in a powder blue, collared shirt and navy shorts, he is a whirlwind alpha-dog presence.