One Last Start? Justin Verlander Takes Another Step Toward Tigers Return

The possibility of Justin Verlander taking the mound one final time for the Detroit Tigers is becoming a little more realistic.

Verlander took another step forward Saturday in his attempt to return before the end of his final Major League season, throwing from the mound with hitters standing in the batter’s box as he continues building toward game action.

The hitters weren’t swinging, so Verlander still has another level to reach in his progression. But with only weeks remaining in the regular season, every successful throwing session matters.

For Detroit, this isn’t simply another injury update.

It’s about giving one of the greatest pitchers in franchise history an opportunity to finish his career where it started.

The Next Step Could Be Hitters — and Then a Rehab Assignment

Verlander’s 2026 homecoming hasn’t unfolded the way anyone envisioned.

Injuries have kept the veteran right-hander from spending much of his farewell season on the mound. But rather than shutting things down, Verlander has continued working toward a return.

Saturday represented another progression as hitters stood in during his mound session.

The Tigers will continue evaluating how his body responds before determining the next step, which could eventually include facing live hitters and beginning a rehab assignment.

Time, however, is becoming a factor.

Detroit’s regular season concludes later this month, meaning there aren’t many opportunities remaining to build Verlander back into game condition.

But the objective doesn’t necessarily have to be a traditional starter’s workload.

If Verlander can get healthy enough to pitch competitively, even a shorter appearance could provide Detroit with one of the most memorable moments of the season.

One Final Moment at Comerica?

The timing makes the possibility particularly intriguing.

Detroit is preparing to honor Verlander’s career with a two-day celebration at Comerica Park on September 25 and 26. The festivities are designed to recognize a career that began when the Tigers selected Verlander second overall in the 2004 MLB Draft.

Now imagine that celebration including Verlander actually taking the baseball.

That would transform an already emotional farewell weekend into something considerably bigger.

Verlander has previously made it clear that if he does return, he wants it to be legitimate competition rather than simply a ceremonial appearance.

That’s fitting for someone whose career has always been built around competing.

Flaherty Making Progress Too

Verlander isn’t the only veteran Tigers starter working his way back.

Jack Flaherty threw a two-inning simulated game Saturday as he continues recovering from right flexor inflammation.

Flaherty came away encouraged by the session and said afterward that everything felt good as he pushes toward a September return.

Detroit may not have enough time to stretch Flaherty back into a conventional five- or six-inning starter before the season ends, meaning the Tigers could get creative with his role if he’s activated.

For a rotation that has been forced to rely heavily on younger arms during the second half, getting either veteran back would be significant.

Getting both back would give Detroit an interesting final few weeks.

This Is Bigger Than the Standings

The Tigers aren’t where they hoped to be when the 2026 season began.

Tarik Skubal is now pitching for Los Angeles. Detroit has spent much of the second half battling injuries and inconsistency, and September has increasingly become about evaluating the young players who could form the foundation of the 2027 roster.

Verlander represents something different.

His potential return isn’t about evaluating the future.

It’s about properly closing the past.

From his 2006 Rookie of the Year season to the dominant Tigers teams that regularly competed for American League championships, Verlander became one of the defining players of an entire era of Detroit baseball.

His career eventually took him elsewhere.

But it also brought him home.

MCSN Takeaway

There are still hurdles Justin Verlander must clear.

Throwing with hitters standing in isn’t the same as facing live Major League competition, and with the calendar approaching late September, there are no guarantees he’ll make it all the way back.

But the door remains open.

And with every successful throwing session, the possibility becomes a little easier to imagine:

Justin Verlander. Comerica Park. Old English D. One last time.

For Tigers fans who watched his career begin more than two decades ago, there couldn’t be a more fitting ending.