Tigers Name Verlander Starter for Planned Final Career Start

The Detroit Tigers announced that Justin Verlander will start Saturday’s home game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, a planned final career start for the veteran pitcher. The team also plans a two-day celebration during the series. The game has not yet taken place, so Verlander’s appearance, workload and performance remain unknown. The announcement comes after an injury-limited 2026 season. Verlander has made one major-league appearance, a March start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, before going on the injured list with hip inflammation. Reports say he later sustained a hamstring injury. The Tigers signed him in February after he spent the 2025 season with the San Francisco Giants. One report said Verlander had recently thrown a one-inning simulated game and a bullpen session, but was not stretched out for a long outing. It also said he had not made a recent minor-league rehabilitation assignment. The reports do not establish how many innings he might pitch, and the announced start remains subject to the team’s plans.