Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander was expected to return to the starting rotation on Sunday after being sidelined with a hip injury for months. It was supposed to mark his first home start at Comerica Park as a Tiger since 2017, nearly a decade.
However, Verlander has suffered a new hamstring strain during a bullpen session in Houston, which will keep him out for several weeks in an unfortunate setback.
Manager A.J. Hinch confirmed to reporters before Friday’s game against the Chicago WHite Sox that Verlander will not be available Sunday. This marks his second IL-level injury of the season. “This is not a matter of days. It’s a matter of weeks,” Hinch said (h/t Jason Beck of MLB.com).
Justin Verlander will not start for Tigers on Sunday. He strained his left hamstring during his side session in Houston, A.J. Hinch said.
“This is not a matter of days. It’s a matter of weeks,” Hinch said.— Jason Beck (@beckjason) June 19, 2026
Verlander, 43, signed a one-year, $13 million deal this past offseason and has now suffered six IL-level injuries over the past four seasons. This year was supposed to mark a return to where his career began, with the Tigers expecting him to solidify the back of their rotation.
His comeback had already been delayed once after he missed two months earlier this season with hip inflammation, and this new hamstring issue is another significant blow for both him and the team.
Verlander is a three-time Cy Young winner and nine-time All-Star who has led the American League in strikeouts five times. He debuted with Detroit in 2005 and spent 13 seasons with the organization before being traded to the Houston Astros in 2017. He remains the majors’ active leader in wins with 266, strikeouts with 3,554 and innings pitched at 3,571 1/3.
His 2026 season debut for the Tigers came March 30 in Arizona, where he lasted just 3 2/3 innings and allowed five earned runs. Before this latest setback, he had been working his way back from the hip injury through a rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo.
The Tigers currently sit at 22-38, last in the American League Central. This has been a difficult year for Detroit’s pitching staff overall, with ace Tarik Skubal also dealing with an elbow injury earlier in the season.
With Verlander expected to miss weeks, the Tigers will turn to Keider Montero to fill the rotation spot.
Despite his extensive injury history, Verlander was brought back to Detroit largely for his experience and ability to support a young pitching staff. For now, the Tigers can only hope he eventually returns healthy and stays that way long enough to help them climb out of last place.