Justin Verlander prepares for his final hurrah: the MLB legend aims to say goodbye where it all began
Por Carlos Rodríguez ·
One of the greatest pitchers of his generation is getting closer and closer to the farewell he’s always dreamed of. Justin Verlander is set to make the final start of his career this Saturday, September 26, at Comerica Park, when the Detroit Tigers host the Pittsburgh Pirates.
His return still depends on the veteran right-hander successfully completing the final stages of his recovery. Verlander, 43, recently threw a simulated inning of about 20 pitches, and manager A.J. Hinch gave a positive assessment of his performance. If his recovery continues as planned, Detroit intends to give him the ball on Saturday. It would be a particularly emotional moment because Verlander announced in July that he will retire at the end of the 2026 season, bringing a 21-year Major League Baseball career to a close. Furthermore, it would bring him full circle with the very organization that selected him with the second overall pick in the 2004 MLB Draft.
A season marked by injuries
Verlander has made only one start in 2026.
He pitched against Arizona on March 30 and was subsequently placed on the injured list due to inflammation in his left hip.
As he was preparing to return, an injury to his left hamstring once again delayed his plans.
Those physical problems also prevented him from returning to the mound at Comerica Park sooner.
Verlander hasn’t pitched there as a member of the Tigers since August 20, 2017—just days before he was traded to the Houston Astros.
Now he’ll have one last chance to do so in front of the fans who watched him become a star (Filed under: Justin Verlander prepares for his final start).
[pullquote quote=”It would be an especially emotional moment” cite=”NuevaOnda.com”]
A race destined to go down in history
The numbers speak to the scope of his career.
Verlander has 266 wins, 3,554 strikeouts, and a 3.33 ERA in the regular season.
He also won three Cy Young Awards, was named American League MVP in 2011, and won two World Series titles with Houston.
In addition, he is one of only six pitchers in MLB history with three no-hitters.
He won two of them while playing for Detroit.
That’s why, if his body responds and he finally takes the mound on Saturday, the game against Pittsburgh will have a significance that goes far beyond the final score:
It will be Verlander’s chance to bid farewell to Major League Baseball at the very place where he built much of his legacy (Filed under: Justin Verlander prepares for his final start).
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