HOUSTON – Justin Verlander is ready to return.
The Detroit Tigers will activate Verlander from the injured list on Father’s Day, starting him Sunday, June 21, against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park. The 43-year-old right-hander has been sidelined since April 1 with left hip inflammation.
Verlander hasn’t pitched for the Tigers at Comerica Park since Aug. 20, 2017.
“It’s time to challenge him even more with a game,” manager A.J. Hinch said before Tuesday’s game against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. “The energy that comes with that start will be good for him, and I think it will be good for us. He’ll prepare for Sunday’s start and be ready to go.”
Verlander hasn’t pitched for the Tigers since March 30, when he surrendered five runs across 3⅔ innings on 80 pitches to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
It was his only start of the 2026 season.
When he starts Sunday, he will have spent 81 days on the injured list before returning. On his way back, he completed three simulated game and two rehab starts.
Verlander is stretched out to nearly 90 pitches.
“He’s responded better and better after these outings,” Hinch said, one day after Verlander completed a four-inning, 66-pitch simulated game. “The big key is holding his stuff and holding his delivery. This is the next step. He’s worked hard to get back to this point. We’ve pushed him.”
With Verlander, the Tigers have five starters in the rotation.
He is joined by Tarik Skubal, Framber Valdez, Casey Mize and Troy Melton, with Keider Montero moving to the bullpen and Jack Flaherty recovering on the injured list.
Melton was scratched from Monday’s start with general back tightness, but he is expected to start Saturday against the White Sox as long as he checks the remaining boxes.
“He’s truly day-to-day,” Hinch said of Melton’s status. “He has a few things to do before I can definitively say that he can do that, but today was a great step forward.”
After Melton, Verlander will start Sunday’s game.
Verlander signed a one-year, $13 million contract in February 2026, rejoining the Tigers after his first stint from 2005-17. The first stint ended when the Tigers traded him to the Astros for three prospects in August 2017.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Justin Verlander returns to Tigers on Father’s Day at Comerica Park
Reporting by Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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By Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
