Justin Verlander’s Detroit Homecoming Delayed After Hip Injury Lands Him On 15-Day IL

Detroit Tigers fans eagerly anticipating Justin Verlander’s first start at Comerica Park since 2017 will have to wait a little longer. The organization officially placed the veteran right-hander on the 15-day injured list due to hip inflammation. The move, retroactive to Wednesday, sidelines the 43-year-old pitcher just as the 2026 season gets underway.

Detroit Tigers Justin Verlander Lands On IL

Verlander’s return to Detroit served as one of the most compelling storylines of the offseason. After an extended stint in free agency, he signed a one-year, $13 million contract in February to reunite with the franchise that drafted him. He spent the first 13 years of his major league career in a Tigers uniform, establishing himself as a fan favorite and an elite competitor.

He was scheduled to take the mound on Sunday Night Baseball against the St. Louis Cardinals. This would have marked his first home start in Detroit since August 20, 2017. Instead, the hip inflammation forces a delay in his highly anticipated reunion with the home crowd. In his lone start this season on March 30 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Verlander struggled, allowing five runs over 3.2 innings.

Cementing a Hall of Fame Legacy

Even at 43 years old, making him the oldest active player in Major League Baseball, Verlander brings an unmatched resume to the clubhouse. He is a three-time American League Cy Young Award winner and ranks in the top 10 in Tigers franchise history for starts, innings pitched, strikeouts, and WHIP.

Since his debut in 2005, Verlander leads all major league pitchers with an incredible 84.5 fWAR. To put that dominance into perspective, he remains the only pitcher to exceed 80.0 fWAR during that specific timeframe. His veteran presence provides invaluable leadership to a developing Detroit roster.

Impact on the Tigers’ Rotation

Losing a pitcher with Verlander’s experience tests the depth of the Tigers’ starting rotation early in the season. To fill the immediate void on the 26-man roster, Detroit called up Keider Montero from Triple-A. Montero brings recent major league experience, having appeared in 20 games for the Tigers last season, and recently delivered a strong four-inning shutout performance in the minors.

Because the IL placement is retroactive, Verlander becomes eligible to return to the active roster as soon as April 16. The Tigers will closely monitor his rehabilitation over the next two weeks. If he recovers quickly, fans will soon get the chance to welcome their legendary ace back to the Comerica Park mound.