Justin Verlander is set to make one more start for the Detroit Tigers this season, and it will come next Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
For a Tigers team that appears headed for automatic elimination from the 2026 MLB Postseason, the news offers a final bit of good feeling before the year closes. Manager AJ Hinch is getting his veteran back on the mound after a long stretch away with an injury, giving Detroit one last look at a familiar face before the offseason arrives.
That return carries extra weight because Verlander’s place in Tigers history is already secure. He is going to have his number retired, and his career has meant a great deal to the city of Detroit. So even with the season slipping away, this last start brings a little nostalgia for both Verlander and the fans who have followed him for so long.
It also gives Hinch a chance to answer one important question. Verlander is in his 40s and could decide to retire after this season, but if he pitches well against the Pirates, he might choose to come back for another year. This final outing could help show whether he has one more season left in him or whether this is the end.
Detroit’s rotation has been battered all year. Verlander, Jack Flaherty, and others have all missed time, and the lack of consistency has been a major reason the Tigers are not going to make the playoffs. Hinch has spent the season juggling injuries and leaning on pitchers from Triple-A, a reality that has made the rotation hard to stabilize.
The Tigers might have been in the postseason picture if they had been able to keep more arms healthy. But over a 162-game season, injuries happen, and Detroit has taken plenty of hits on the mound.
Still, Verlander’s return gives the Tigers something to hold onto for one more night. It may be his final start of the year, and maybe the final one of his career.
In Other News...
Tigers Bring Back A Familiar Voice As Big Decisions Loom
The Tigers are adding a familiar voice to their front office as they head into a stretch of major organizational choices, reportedly bringing back Jay Sartori as vice president for baseball operations. Sartori is no stranger to Detroit, having previously helped build out the clubs analytics and technology infrastructure during an earlier stint with the organization, and he is expected to work alongside the current baseball operations group.
What remains to be sorted out is how his role will actually fit into the chain of command once the move becomes official. The team has not announced the hire, and there is still some uncertainty about Sartoris exact responsibilities and how he will be aligned with the other executives already in place, which makes this a noteworthy addition even before the details are clarified. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Rain Delay Just Raised The Tension On A Brutal Finale
Rain pushed back the Tigers Sunday matchup with the White Sox, adding a little more unwanted drama to a finale that already carried real stakes in Chicago. Troy Melton was lined up to start for Detroit against Davis Martin, but the first task was simply getting the game in once the weather cleared.
For a club still trying to keep its season alive, every delay only stretches out the tension around a must-hold game. Detroit faces elimination from playoff contention with a loss, so the wait before first pitch has turned an already brutal ending into even more of a pressure cooker. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Have An Offseason Catching Debate Scott Harris Can't Ignore
The Tigers have spent the 2026 season in an enviable spot behind the plate, with Dillon Dingler and Eduardo Valencia both giving the club steady production while the organizations catching pipeline continues to look deep at multiple minor league levels. It is the kind of position every front office wants to have, because it means Detroit does not have to wonder whether it can cover the most demanding spot on the field.
Scott Harris challenge now is deciding how much of that depth the Tigers can afford to keep. With pitching needs looming, especially in the bullpen for 2027, the catchers could become one of the clearest areas where Detroit has something other clubs want. The question is whether the Tigers view this as a surplus to leverage or a foundation to protect, and that choice could shape the rest of the offseason. [Read more 🡒]