HOUSTON -- If there is a blemish on the stellar resume of Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander, it is this: In seven career World Series starts with two franchises, Verlander is 0-6 with a 5.68 ERA. That mark seems incongruous with everything Verlander has accomplished....

“This is not an easy decision for me and is something I have been wrestling with for a long time,” Stearns said in a prepared statement. “ Mark Attanasio and I have had an open dialogue and we both knew this day could eventually...