DETROIT — Sunday morning in Cleveland, Justin Verlander searched for an eloquent way to describe the crux in front of him.“I don’t know how to say it without being rude,” he said. “But it’s time to s— or get off the pot.”What was once supposed to be a minor hip injury turned into a stint on the 60-day injured list. Tuesday, though, came the decision. The Tigers are planning to activate the 43-year-old 83 days after his lone start of the 2026 season. He will pitch on Sunday, Father’s Day, at Comerica Park.It will be his first start in Detroit as a Tiger since Aug. 20, 2017.In his time on the IL, Verlander ramped up his volume of pitches but was still grappling with his stuff. He pitched in two minor-league rehab outings, surrendering four solo home runs in the second. He did a series of live bullpen sessions, most recently on Monday in Houston. Detroit Tigers rookie Hao-Yu Lee tagged him for a single, a double and a home run.Can Verlander give the Tigers the type of solid performance they need?
“It was a very straightforward conversation with him coming out of his last rehab outing,” manager A.J. Hinch said Sunday. “I think he felt fine. Whether fine is good enough is always something we’re tackling.”Verlander’s long stint on the injured list came with ups and downs, realizations and frustrations. Throughout the process, he spoke more than once about making mechanical tweaks he thinks can help him. But with stubborn soreness in his hip, his ability to repeat his desired mechanics was not always there.“At times it is, at times it’s not,” Verlander said. “It’s been tough mentally.”Verlander’s only start this season came on March 30 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he surrendered five runs in 3 2/3 innings. He was scratched from his next outing, one that was supposed to be a celebrated return to Comerica Park.Much has changed since then.The Tigers have limped to a 30-42 record, fighting to stay in contention. The injury bug has bitten them hard. Even with Tarik Skubal and soon Verlander back, the Tigers lost Jack Flaherty to a lower leg strain over the weekend. Right-hander Troy Melton was scratched from his Monday start, and second baseman Gleyber Torres left mid-game after grabbing at his left side. Tuesday, infielder Colt Keith — who hit three home runs in Monday’s 9-3 victory against the Houston Astros — was scratched with right wrist soreness.The 2026 season has not gone to plan for either Verlander or the Tigers. The club can hardly afford to give Verlander an extended trial to find his stuff in the major leagues. But Verlander is still a legendary competitor. This past weekend, he seemed hopeful that a boost of game-speed adrenaline could be exactly what he needs.“I just got to go pitch, you know?” Verlander said. “It’s been a long time. It’s been a hard process. But at this point, as close as I am, I think it’s just time to go pitch.”
