GLENDALE, Ariz. >> Justin Verlander wanted to try something new. He often does.

Verlander became interested in the Giants’ internal Hawkeye tools, which can be used to help pitchers generate more movement with their pitches. With Verlander pitching a simulated game in Scottsdale on Saturday afternoon while the Giants played the Dodgers on the road, Verlander used the low-leverage environment to try a modified curveball, one featuring more sweep. Verlander hadn’t worked on this curveball for weeks.

“He just decided to try it this morning,” said pitching coach J.P. Martinez with a smile.

With an experimental curveball, Verlander threw three innings against Giants minor leaguers (plus Willy Adames) at Papago Park in Scottsdale while San Francisco lost to Los Angeles at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz.

Verlander could very well never use his modified curveball against real competition, but Saturday provided another glance into how Verlander has endured two decades after his debut.

“He’s doing stuff every day,” said manager Bob Melvin after the Giants’ 6-5 loss to the Dodgers. “Whether it’s mechanics or a new pitch, there’s just a million things the guy works on. … I wouldn’t say it surprises me, but it surprises me that he’s willing to tinker with the success he’s had. He’s always trying to get better.”

There was no shortage of younger guys on hand for Verlander’s simulated game, many eager to witness the future Hall of Famer. The six minor leaguers who faced Verlander — Carter Howell, James Tibbs III, Dakota Jordan, Jhonny Level, Jonah Cox, Jesus Alexander — went a combined 0 for 6 with four strikeouts. Verlander, 42, not only struck out Level, 17, on three pitches, but pitched him backward, too, starting Level off with a changeup before dumping in a curveball and overpowering him with a fastball.

The minor leaguers couldn’t touch Verlander, but the right-hander still ended up allowing two earned runs over his three innings (42 pitches) of work. That was due entirely to Adames, who faced Verlander five times and ended up with a solo homer, an RBI double and a walk.

The next few weeks will determine whether Verlander’s altered curveball will still be in his repertoire on April 4, the day of the Giants’ home opener against the Seattle Mariners. Verlander is currently in line to be San Francisco’s first starter to toe the slab at Oracle Park, a venue he has not pitched at since Game 1 of the 2012 World Series.