TODAY: Can a veteran ignite a floundering staff? The Tigers have lifted Justin Verlander off the 60‑day IL, reports beat writers including MLive’s Evan Woodbery. At the same time, left‑hander Andrew Sears was sent to the Florida Complex League now that Triple‑A is done, and Kerry Carpenter shifted from the 10‑day IL to the 60‑day IL after missing action since July 26 with a left‑foot plantar fasciitis.
SEPTEMBER 22: Detroit announced Verlander will take the mound Saturday, marking the final start of his storied career. He must be reinstated from the 60‑day list, and the club has several players ready to fill that spot, freeing a 40‑man roster slot.
The outing will be largely ceremonial, yet it should feel festive. Detroit signed Verlander this offseason after years with other teams, but he has yet to pitch in a Tigers uniform. He logged a single start on the road before landing on the IL with left‑hip inflammation, then a hamstring strain stalled his return.
In July he declared this season would be his last. Since then he has chased game shape while Detroit slipped out of contention. The Tigers, already eliminated, face the Pirates—also out of the race—this weekend. With nothing on the line, Detroit can send Verlander out without fearing the outcome.
For fans, it’s a chance to cheer the man who was drafted by Detroit in 2004 and anchored the staff through 2017 before moving to the Astros. Along the way he collected All‑Star nods, Rookie of the Year, MVP, Cy Young and numerous statistical crowns, then added more honors with the Astros, Mets and Giants.
Last season Verlander posted a 3.85 ERA over 29 starts for the Giants. Re‑signing him was meant to boost the roster, not just tug at nostalgia, yet injuries and overall mediocrity have turned it into a sentimental gesture. In my view, Detroit’s gamble feels more sentimental than strategic. Will his farewell appearance draw a crowd and spark a late‑season spark?