After spending two and a half months on the shelf, Justin Verlander is ready to make his long-awaited return to the Detroit Tigers’ rotation.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch announced Tuesday that Verlander is slated to come off the 60-day injured list and start Sunday’s game against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park. It will be his first start in Detroit as a Tiger since Aug. 20, 2017.
Verlander, 43, reunited with the Tigers on a one-year, $13 million contract in February. The nine-time All-Star has made just one major league start this season, allowing five runs over 3.2 innings on the road against Arizona. He has been sidelined since April 1 because of inflammation in his left hip.
In his first rehab appearance on June 2, Verlander threw 64 pitches over five scoreless innings for Triple-A Toledo. He made another start for the Mud Hens on June 10, surrendering four solo home runs over an 86-pitch outing that lasted 5.2 innings. A four-inning simulated game at Daikin Park on Monday preceded Hinch’s announcement Tuesday.
“He’s responded better and better after these outings,” Hinch said. “I think the big key is holding his stuff and holding his delivery.”
A 21-year veteran, Verlander enters Sunday’s game as MLB’s active leader in wins (266) and strikeouts (3,554). He spent his first 13 seasons with Detroit before being traded to the Houston Astros, with whom he won two of his three Cy Young Awards and a pair of World Series titles. The right-hander also had stints with the New York Mets and San Francisco Giants before returning to the Tigers this winter.
To open a rotation spot for Verlander, the Tigers are moving Keider Montero to the bullpen for at least the next two series. The 25-year-old right-hander has made 13 starts this season, posting a 3.61 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 48 strikeouts over 72.1 innings.
