Detroit Tigers Make Major Justin Verlander Announcement

Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Sunday the club still hopes Justin Verlander can pitch one last time this season, with Sept. 26 against the Pittsburgh Pirates listed as the target date.

That Saturday falls during a planned career celebration at Comerica Park that the team has already labeled Ver-Fest.

Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reported Hinch’s comments this way: “AJ Hinch said the hope is that Justin Verlander will be able to pitch on the final Saturday of the season, during Ver-Fest, at Comerica Park. It’s not a firm schedule. He has a few more boxes to check. But that is the goal.”

The 43-year-old right-hander has not appeared in a game since March 30, when he lasted 3 2/3 innings in his only start of 2026. He signed a one-year, $13 million deal in the offseason to return to the franchise that drafted him first overall in 2004.

A mound session Saturday offered the most encouraging signs in weeks.

Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic wrote: “There were some positive signs coming out of Justin Verlander’s throwing session off the mound yesterday. He hit 93 mph. Tigers are trying to get him ready to pitch on the final weekend.”

Hinch said Verlander threw as hard as he has in more than a month and called the session a good sign.

The Tigers wrapped up a three-game sweep of the Colorado Rockies with an 8-1 win Sunday afternoon. Jackson Jobe struck out a career-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings as Detroit improved to 70-79 after 149 games.

The Tigers sit six games behind the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central and are tied with Minnesota for third place. They have gone 6-4 in their last 10 games and own a 39-36 record at home.

Detroit now travels to Toronto for a three-game series against the Blue Jays that begins Monday night. The Tigers are 31-43 on the road this season.

Jason Beck of MLB.com reported the next step in Verlander’s buildup: “Justin Verlander will throw a simulated game next weekend while team is in Chicago. Tigers aiming to have him on track to pitch Sept. 26 vs. Pirates, the final Saturday of regular season, during the Verlander career celebration at Comerica Park.”

Hinch described the schedule as written in pencil rather than ink.

“I’m cautious to throw it out there too firmly,” Hinch said. “Because a lot of things can happen between now and then and we’ve seen that. He’s really battling and he’s going to pitch through whatever, but we can’t have any setbacks of any sort.”

Verlander is in his 21st major league season. He spent his first 13 years in Detroit before later playing for the Houston Astros, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants.

He has already said 2026 will be his final year.Left hip inflammation landed him on the injured list in early April. A hamstring strain later delayed a planned June return.

“It’s been super frustrating because there’s been several setbacks along the way,” Verlander said.

If he can take the mound Sept. 26, it would mark his first start at Comerica Park as a Tiger since Aug. 20, 2017, 11 days before the trade that sent him to Houston.

The Tigers already scheduled giveaways and in-stadium events for that final weekend.

Hinch said Verlander is following a seven-day throwing plan that includes additional bullpen work this week. A live batting practice or simulated game while the team is in Chicago next weekend would be the next major checkpoint.

“He’ll get a couple bullpen sessions. There will be something in Chicago, pregame, a live BP or sim game of some sort to try to push that intensity and volume even more,” Hinch said.

Because Detroit is out of playoff contention, the club can treat the appearance as a sendoff rather than a high-stakes start. Verlander is 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA in 3 2/3 innings this season.

At 43, he is the oldest player in the majors. Fans have waited all year for one more look at the three-time Cy Young Award winner in a Tigers uniform.

The next two weeks will decide whether that farewell outing actually happens.