Justin Verlander Fantasy Stats

Detroit Tigers veteran right-hander Justin Verlander (hamstring, hip) is scheduled to come off the 60-day injured list to make one final start for his illustrious career on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to Jeff Seidel of The Detroit Free Press. Fantasy managers still competing for a championship in the final week of the regular season will obviously want to stay away, but it is something to watch for baseball fans this weekend in what will be the 43-year-old's final start in the big leagues before he hangs up his cleats. The former MVP, three-time Cy Young winner, and 10-time All-Star has made just one start this year, back on March 30 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, when he allowed five earned runs on six hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out one in just 3 2/3 innings of work. Verlander has been working his way back from hamstring and hip injuries all season, so we should not be expecting much out of him versus the Pirates.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (hamstring/hip) threw a one-inning, 20-pitch live batting practice session on Friday. The 43-year-old said that he felt great after this successful outing. This was yet another step in the right direction, as it was his first time throwing against live batters. What lies ahead in his progress remains to be seen, as the plan is for him to pitch one final time in his illustrious career on Saturday, September 26, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Whether or not he is able to throw one inning or more remains questionable, but with him retiring after this season, chances are he will be healthy enough to make that appearance and cap off one of baseball's greatest careers. With 266 wins and 3,554 strikeouts over 21 seasons, the surefire Hall of Famer will be looking to finish his career where it started: in Detroit.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (hamstring/hip) took a big step forward in his injury progression on Saturday by facing live batters prior to the team's game against the Colorado Rockies. This marks the first time that the 43-year-old has faced live hitters since he went on the Injured List very early in the season. It is worth noting that the batters who stood in the box did not take any swings, but the fact that they were there marks a significant step in the right direction. Verlander is hoping to cap off his career with one final start on the final weekend of the season. With the Tigers almost out of playoff contention and with potentially nothing to play for, that feels like the perfect sendoff to one of the game's greats. From a fantasy perspective, he is only worth consideration if he does, in fact, return, but there's no guarantee that he makes it back in time to pitch again.

Detroit Tigers veteran right-hander Justin Verlander (hamstring, hip) announced on his X account that he will hang up his cleats and retire following the 2026 season. The 43-year-old former MVP, three-time Cy Young winner, and nine-time All-Star will certainly be in the Hall of Fame down the road, but he has struggled with multiple injuries in 2026 and has only made one start in his return to Detroit. And in his lone start this year, Verlander allowed five earned runs while walking two and striking out just one in 3 2/3 innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He'll be present in Philadelphia for next week's All-Star festivities as a "Legend Pick," but he won't be active while on the 60-day injured list due to a left-hamstring injury that he suffered on June 17 while throwing a bullpen. He was initially placed on the IL on April 4 with hip inflammation. It's unclear when Verlander will make his way back to the Tigers' big-league roster, but if he does, it might be in a bullpen role. He's the current MLB leader in games started (556), wins (266), and strikeouts (3,554). With his career coming to a close, Verlander is rostered in only 3% of Yahoo leagues.

The Detroit Tigers have scratched veteran right-hander Justin Verlander (hip, hamstring) from his scheduled start on Sunday against the division-rival Chicago White Sox with a left-hamstring injury after he threw a bullpen session on Wednesday in Houston, according to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. The Tigers expect Verlander's recovery to be "a matter of weeks." It's a tough blow for the future Hall of Famer and three-time Cy Young winner, as Verlander was on track to come off the 60-day injured list to start on Sunday after spending almost three months on the shelf with inflammation in his left hip. Now the 43-year-old is dealing with a hamstring ailment that will keep him on the IL for another couple of weeks. Right-hander Keider Montero is expected to replace Verlander in the series finale against Chicago on Sunday. Verlander has had an amazing run in his 21 years in the big leagues, but he's struggled to stay healthy towards the end and doesn't have much juice left.

Detroit Tigers veteran right-hander Justin Verlander (hip) will come off the 60-day injured list to start on Sunday against the division-rival Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park, according to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News. It will be Verlander's second start of the 2026 season after he gave up five earned runs on six hits (one homer) while walking two and striking out one in 3 2/3 innings on March 30 against the Arizona Diamondbacks before being placed on the IL. The 43-year-old future Hall of Famer was deemed ready to rejoin Detroit's starting rotation after throwing a 66-pitch, four-inning simulated game on Monday. The three-time Cy Young winner and former MVP had a decent 3.38 ERA and 1.08 ERA in 10 2/3 innings pitched during his minor-league rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo. Verlander will probably be limited in his first start back this weekend in what is a bad matchup against the suddenly potent White Sox's lineup. Despite the news that Verlander is set to return from the IL this weekend, he's still rostered in less than 5% of Yahoo leagues.

Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander (hip) threw a simulated game on Monday instead of returning to the starting rotation to face his former team, the Houston Astros, according to the Detroit Free Press' Evan Petzold. In four innings during his sim game, Verlander threw 66 pitches while facing Hao-Yu Lee, Jake Rogers, and Wenceel Perez. The 43-year-old future Hall of Famer isn't a lock to be reinstated from the 60-day injured list to rejoin the Tigers' starting rotation next, so he could be asked to throw another simulated game or make a minor-league rehab start first. If he does make his next start in the big leagues, it would likely come this Saturday against the division-rival Chicago White Sox in what would be a clear matchup to stay away from. The nine-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young winner, and former MVP doesn't have much left in the tank at this point in his outstanding career, and fantasy managers should have plenty of better upside options available off the waiver wire. Even with Verlander nearing a return to Detroit, he's only rostered in 4% of Yahoo leagues.

Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander (hip) is expected to throw a simulated game on Monday in Houston as he continues his recovery from left hip inflammation. Verlander completed his second rehab start on June 10 with Triple-A Toledo, where he allowed four runs on five hits over six innings. The future Hall of Famer made just one start before the injury, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks across 3 2/3 innings. Staying healthy will be the primary focus for Verlander in his 22nd major league season as he works to rejoin the Tigers rotation.

Detroit Tigers veteran right-hander Justin Verlander (hip) had a rough showing in his minor-league rehab start on Wednesday for Triple-A Toledo, allowing four earned runs on five hits (four home runs) while walking two and striking out three in 5 2/3 innings of work for the Mud Hens. It was in stark contrast to his first rehab start with Toledo on June 2, when he threw five shutout innings over 64 pitches. Despite the ugly results on Wednesday, the good news is that Verlander averaged 92.9 mph with his fastball and got up to 86 pitches in the outing, meaning his next start could be back in the big leagues for the Tigers against his former team, the Houston Astros. That would be a solid matchup for the 43-year-old three-time Cy Young winner and former MVP, but he still won't be recommended as a fantasy streamer after having not pitched in the majors since March 30. And in his lone start in 2026 for Detroit, Verlander allowed five earned runs in 3 2/3 innings to the Arizona Diamondbacks. He's going to be plugged back into the Tigers' starting rotation, but the future Hall of Famer doesn't have much left, and fantasy managers should have better upside options at their disposal.

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (hip) is set to make his second rehab start with Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday, per Evan Woodbery of MLive Media Group. The 43-year-old made just one start in 2026 before being placed on the injured list with a hip injury. Verlander was shelled in his lone outing, allowing five earned runs across 3 2/3 innings of work against the Arizona Diamondbacks. However, the veteran right-hander had a decent year in 2025 for the San Francisco Giants, recording a 4-11 record with a 3.85 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and 137 strikeouts across 152 innings (29 starts). Verlander also pitched well in his first rehab outing at Triple-A, striking out three across five scoreless innings on June 2. Upon his return, Verlander could be a worthy streaming option for deeper-league managers in certain matchups.