Justin Verlander appears ready for real games.
The 43-year-old right-hander threw a 66-pitch simulated game against hitters from the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday, May 27, before the second of three games in the series against Los Angeles Angels at Comerica Park, setting up a long-awaited rehab assignment in his return from left hip inflammation.
A setback in the next 24-48 hours is the only complication that would keep Verlander from making a rehab start.
“He had no issues, and that is a step in the right direction,” manager A.J. Hinch said after Wednesday’s session. “We need to get him towards competition. That’s the goal. I’m going to need the couple of days to dive into that.”
Verlander completed parts of four innings in Wednesday’s simulated game, facing healthy hitters Jahmai Jones, Jake Rogers and Zack Short and injured hitters Kerry Carpenter (out since May 10) and Gleyber Torres (out since May 4).
It marked Verlander’s second simulated game.
He didn’t generate many swings and misses, but his four-seam fastball maxed out at 95.3 mph in the fourth inning.
“We tried to fatigue him a little bit,” Hinch said. “He was stronger this time than last time. The stuff ticked up a little bit. His overall demeanor is getting more competitive and more in line with what he is when he’s training and not rehabbing.”
Carpenter is recovering from a left shoulder sprain; Torres is coming back from a left oblique strain.
In the simulated game, Carpenter recorded multiple plate appearances and swung several times, whereas Torres stepped to the plate (but didn’t swing) in the third inning.
“He was taking full swings,” Hinch said of Carpenter, “and that was really good to see.”
Verlander has been on the injured list since April 1.
Since then, Verlander has been transferred to the 60-day injured list, which means the Tigers will need to create space on the 40-man roster for his return. He is eligible to return May 31 from the injured list, but he won’t be ready to return by then.
Verlander made his first and only start this season March 30 against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field, throwing 80 pitches while surrendering five runs on six hits and two walks with one strikeout across 3⅔ innings.
He hasn’t pitched in a game since then.
Verlander signed a one-year, $13 million contract with the Tigers in February 2026. He previously pitched for the Tigers from 2005-17 as part of his 21-year MLB career.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Justin Verlander reports ‘no issues’ in massive step toward real games
Reporting by Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
