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Verlander Out with Hamstring, Montero Starts

6/20/2026

Summary

Verlander Out

Justin Verlander has been placed on the injured list with a hamstring injury and will miss his scheduled start on Sunday.
His lone start against the Arizona Diamondbacks lasted 3 2/3 innings and yielded five runs.
Manager AJ Hinch said Verlander lacks game-time adrenaline and his pitches have been inconsistent.
Keider Montero, moved back to the bullpen, will start in Verlander’s place on Sunday.

Summary

Verlander Starts

Justin Verlander will start for Detroit on June 19, 2026, his first home game in nearly ten years.
Detroit re-signed him to a one-year deal in the 2025-26 offseason, a nostalgic move.
Coaches say his competitive nature may drive a final Detroit appearance before retirement.
The No. 2 2004 pick who earned Rookie of the Year (2006), a Cy Young (2011) and MVP, was part of a 2017 trade to Houston labeled franchise-altering.

Summary

Tigers Deadline

The Detroit Tigers sit at 30-44 as the August 3 trade deadline nears.
Management may consider trading 6.5-game-back starters Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize, Jack Flaherty, or Justin Verlander.
Reliever Reese Olson is out for the season, limiting bullpen depth, while Jackson Jobe rehabs and Ty Madden, Sawyer Gipson-Long and Jake Miller add depth.
Owner pressure to avoid a sell-off may force roster shake-ups as the AL playoff field offers little cushion.

Summary

Verlander Injured

Scott Harris reintroduced Justin Verlander to the Tigers on Feb. 12, 2026, in Lakeland, Florida, after he signed a one-year, $13 million deal.
Verlander’s only appearance of the second stint came on March 30, 2026, versus Arizona, where he allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings.
He entered the injured list on April 1, 2026, for left-hip inflammation, later strained his left hamstring in a Houston bullpen session, and was scratched on June 19, 2026, after the strain was confirmed.

History

Historical Context

After the Yankees built a Core Four that powered a 114-win, 1998 championship season, they repeatedly re-signed veteran arms like Andy Pettitte, who returned from Tommy John surgery and helped clinch the title. Detroit’s 2025-26 one-year contract with Justin Verlander mirrors that significant strategic reliance on aging pitchers, prompting a roster reevaluation.

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Verlander Out

Justin Verlander has been placed on the injured list with a hamstring injury and will miss his scheduled start on Sunday.
His lone start against the Arizona Diamondbacks lasted 3 2/3 innings and yielded five runs.
Manager AJ Hinch said Verlander lacks game-time adrenaline and his pitches have been inconsistent.
Keider Montero, moved back to the bullpen, will start in Verlander’s place on Sunday.

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