HOUSTON — Justin Verlander continues to grow as a pitcher at the age of 36. He continues to evolve and excel. And he was so good on Friday in Game 1 of the ALDS, a new verb was created.

After Verlander notched his eighth Division Series win with a masterful seven-inning, one-hit performance against the Rays in the Astros’ 6-2 victory at a raucous Minute Maid Park, losing manager Kevin Cash said, “We were Verlandered.’’

Yes, they were.

They are not alone and Verlander continues to be one of the most amazing pitchers to ever take the mound, with an incredible will to win that will not be denied. You can’t teach that or measure that. You have it or you don’t, and when you have it, if the desire and the will and the effort continues to grow as you mature as a pitcher, it is the perfect recipe for success for an individual and a team.

No pitcher has won more Division Series games than Verlander. This is his time.

Verlander is 14-7 in the postseason overall and the Rays never had a chance even though they matched up their young stud Tyler Glasnow against Verlander. In that seventh inning, Verlander struck out the side. He was just getting warmed up.

Not only has Verlander changed the language, he has changed the clubhouse since joining the Astros in 2017. Remember when Jose Altuve said in October 2017, “I literally love Justin Verlander.’’

Altuve was asked by The Post on Friday if his love for Verlander has grown even more.

The 5-foot-6 Altuve, who blasted a two-run home run off the 6-foot-8 Glasnow in the fifth to give the Astros a 2-0 lead, smiled and said,

“Absolutely, I mean like, you don’t believe me but I texted him [Thursday] and I said, ‘I’m really happy that I don’t have to face you tomorrow.’ ’’

Love and respect.

Verlander struck out eight Rays and also got crucial double-play balls as the Astros’ defense excelled while the Rays’ defense faltered, with second baseman Brandon Lowe muffing a two-out pop-up that handed the Astros a pair of extra runs in the fifth.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch knows his team down to its marrow, and here is what he said about the unsinkable Verlander:

“He’s got an incredible instinct for the moment,’’ Hinch said. “He leaves some gas in his gas tank at the end of his outings. He never wavers off his game plan until he has to. Like a good sprinter, like at the finish line, he’s going to win. He’s going to win the race at the end of his outings.’’

This is not about spin rate or anything else, it’s about the will to win.

Added Hinch, “He has a good sense for when the finish line is coming. Both he and Gerrit [Cole] are two of the best I’ve ever seen in baseball doing it.’’

The Rays will see the equally incredible Cole, Verlander 2.0, Saturday night in Game 2.

As for all of Verlander’s postseason success, Hinch added, “You can define aces in a lot of different ways. He’s a star. He’s a Hall of Fame pitcher. So we’re going to look back and be very proud that we crossed paths with him.

“When you can execute at your best in the biggest moments, I mean, there’s nothing — there’s not a higher league. Like there’s nowhere for him to go to be tested any further. So the test is really being able to do it start after start and then postseason after postseason.’’

Verlander is not the type to dwell on all that. He is too busy getting ready for his next start, which could come in the ALCS or against the Rays if there is a Game 4.

“I never get complacent about what I’ve been able to do in the playoffs,’’ said Verlander, who is looking to become the Tom Brady of baseball. “Each and every game is a new opportunity to go out and re-prove myself.’’

Isn’t that what it is all about in any phase of life?

Prove yourself again. Make this the best version of yourself at each and every challenge. Do that, and success follows.

Do that in the postseason, and you become a legend.