Justin Verlander wants to pitch for the Detroit Tigers.
But the Tigers want Verlander to complete a second start on his rehab assignment in an effort to build his volume. His second rehab start is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, for Triple-A Toledo at Fifth Third Field in Toledo, with the Mud Hens facing the St. Paul Saints, an affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
In his first start for Toledo last Tuesday, Verlander completed five scoreless innings on 64 pitches against the Iowa Cubs, an affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, in Des Moines.
“Obviously, I would like to pitch, but I was too efficient, I guess, throwing 60-something pitches,” Verlander said before Sunday’s finale of a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners at Comerica Park. “That sucks. I threw too well. They want some more volume. I think that’s fair.”
Verlander hasn’t pitched for the Tigers since March 30 against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field in his only start of the 2026 season, and he has been on the injured list since April 1 with left hip inflammation. The 43-year-old right-hander could’ve returned for Tuesday’s opener of a three-game series against the Twins at Comerica Park.
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Instead, he will make another rehab start.
The goal is to pitch into the sixth inning on 70-80 pitches.
“Two things have to be,” manager A.J. Hinch said before Sunday’s game. “The first part is you have to be ready physically for the demands in the big leagues that are different than they are in Triple-A. … The second part is the rotation has be ready for this onslaught of new starters that are coming back, and we will be.”
His next opportunity to pitch for the Tigers will be June 15 or June 16 against the Houston Astros in Houston, possibly matching up with Astros right-hander Hunter Brown, who was born in Detroit and attended Wayne State. Brown is also preparing to return from the injured list, where he has been sidelined since April 2 with a right shoulder strain.
Verlander still hasn’t pitched for the Tigers at Comerica Park since Aug. 20, 2017.
Two starts later, the Tigers – led by then-general manager Al Avila – traded Verlander on Aug. 31 to the Astros three prospects.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Verlander said. “I mean, it would be nice to pitch here at home. I was really looking forward to that first one here at home. I’m excited to pitch, generally, but to have my first start back here at home would be really special. That’s what I’m most looking forward to.”
Verlander finished every season from 2017-24 on the Astros, winning the World Series in 2017 and 2022. He registered a 3.85 ERA across 152 innings in 29 starts for the San Francisco Giants in 2025, including a 2.60 ERA in his final 13 starts.
The Tigers signed Verlander to a one-year, $13 million contract in February.
He previously pitched for the Tigers from 2005-17.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Justin Verlander needs another rehab start before return to Tigers
Reporting by Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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By Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
