Justin Verlander threw the last pitches of his career Saturday afternoon at Comerica Park, working 5 1/3 innings in a 4-3 Detroit win over Pittsburgh in which he earned a no-decision. He allowed five hits and two earned runs — both solo home runs — walked one and struck out six on 91 pitches, 57 for strikes, in his 557th and final MLB start. It was his second outing of 2026 and his first since March 30, in a season derailed by a sore hip and hamstring injury.
His last batter was Brandon Lowe, who popped out in foul territory to catcher Dillon Dingler leading off the sixth. Manager A.J. Hinch walked from the dugout toward the plate and pointed toward the seats, and Verlander’s 7-year-old daughter, Genevieve, sprinted to the mound and hugged him as teammates circled around. Verlander then went down the dugout steps with his wife and children.
How the day unfolded
Pittsburgh built a lead that held until the ninth. Lowe’s solo homer in the top of the fourth made it 1-0, and Jacob Gonzalez’s solo shot in the top of the fifth made it 2-0. Detroit’s Javier Báez cut it to 2-1 with an RBI double in the sixth, after Verlander had already left the game. The Pirates answered with Bryan Reynolds’ RBI triple in the eighth — off a Tigers reliever, not Verlander — for a 3-1 lead. Detroit pulled within 3-2 in the ninth on Kevin McGonigle’s RBI groundout, then rookie Eduardo Valencia won it with a two-run homer off Mason Montgomery for the 4-3 final. Jacob Waguespack got the win; Montgomery took the loss.
Earlier, Verlander struck out Oneil Cruz on a slider leading off the second inning — the 3,555th strikeout of his career. “The vibe in the stadium, from the second I walked out there, was just really incredible,” Verlander said afterward. “It brought back some really fond memories of the days when this ballpark was absolutely raucous every single night.” He added: “I think when I lay my head on my pillow tonight, I think I’ll feel like I did everything that I wanted to do today.” Pirates manager Don Kelly, a former teammate, called it “surreal,” adding: “Talk about a competitor, hasn’t pitched since March and going out throwing 90-plus pitches, hitting 95.”
The career by the numbers
Verlander, 43, finishes 266-159 with a 3.33 ERA, 3,560 strikeouts, 557 starts, 3,576 2/3 innings, 26 complete games and nine shutouts across 21 seasons, according to MLB’s Stats API. He debuted July 4, 2005, and spent his first 13 seasons in Detroit before a 2017 trade to Houston. He pitched for the Astros through 2020 and again from 2022 to 2024, with part of 2023 spent with the Mets, then pitched for San Francisco in 2025 before returning to Detroit for 2026 — his two stints with the Tigers account for 382 of his 557 career starts. He did not pitch in 2021. His honors include the 2006 AL Rookie of the Year award, three Cy Young Awards (2011, 2019, 2022), the 2011 AL MVP award, two World Series titles with Houston (2017, 2022) and 2017 ALCS MVP. MLB lists him as an All-Star in 10 seasons, the last as a 2026 Legend Pick.
Where he stands on the strikeout list
His 3,560 strikeouts leave him eighth all time, 14 behind seventh-place Don Sutton (3,574). Ninth on the list is Max Scherzer, Verlander’s Detroit teammate from 2010 to 2014, with 3,550 — 10 behind Verlander entering Sunday. Toronto, eliminated at 78-83, lists Scherzer as its probable starter for Sunday’s finale against Cincinnati. Scherzer has 61 strikeouts in 77 2/3 innings across 17 starts this season. Speaking to reporters before Verlander’s start, Scherzer said he is not in a contest with his former teammate and will decide about pitching in 2027 during the offseason. “I hope he goes out there and strikes out the world today,” Scherzer said.
The Hall of Fame clock
Under Baseball Writers’ Association of America rules, Verlander must be retired for five calendar years before he can appear on the writers’ Hall of Fame ballot — the rule states a player “shall have ceased to be an active player in the major leagues at least five (5) calendar years preceding the election.”
Sunday’s stakes
Detroit, 76-85, is eliminated. Pittsburgh, 81-80, needs one win Sunday for its first winning season since 2018. Pirates reliever Kirby Yates, 39, made his first career start Saturday after 517 relief appearances and said he is retiring.