Justin Verlander thanked Tigers fans for their support in a season he said did not go as expected. After appearing in one game this year, he will make the final start of his MLB career Saturday, Detroit’s 161st game. The club honored him Friday.
Detroit will miss the MLB postseason, ending a two-year run of postseason appearances. The article cites injuries to the pitching rotation: Reese Olson missed the entire season, Verlander appeared once after signing a one-year deal, and Tarik Skubal missed several weeks earlier in the season after a non-invasive procedure.
Verlander said he had not expected 2026 to be his final season after a healthy, successful prior year. He said returning to Detroit, where his career began, was meaningful despite the season’s outcome, and that he looks forward to spending more time with his seven-year-old daughter and one-year-old son.
