Justin Verlander's Homecoming Is Off: The Tigers' 43-Year-Old Ace Lands on IL Right Before His First Detroit Start Since 2017

The Detroit Tigers were supposed to host a primetime special on Sunday night at Comerica Park. Instead, they got bad news on Saturday afternoon that knocked the wind out of everyone's sails. Justin Verlander, the 43-year-old right-hander who was set to make his first home start in a Tigers uniform since August 20, 2017, hit the injured list due to left hip inflammation. The nationally televised matchup against the St. Louis Cardinals got a lot less exciting in a hurry.

Verlander downplayed the severity of the injury but understood the sting. "It's frustrating for me, obviously," he said. "I also know a lot of fans were excited about [Sunday] night." The organization made the call to be cautious this early in the season, and now the moment that had been marketed for weeks will have to wait.

The Verlander Factor

This wasn't just any start for the Tigers. Verlander won the first of his three Cy Young Awards in 2011 with Detroit. He spent 13 seasons in a Tigers uniform from 2005-17, racking up 183 of his 266 career wins in the Old English D before stints with the Astros, Mets, and Giants. Coming home to Detroit was supposed to feel like a coronation, not a trip to the training room.

Manager A.J. Hinch had to improvise fast. Right-hander Keider Montero got the call from Triple-A Toledo to step in for the series finale. Montero has 29 starts under his belt in a Tigers uniform and went 5-3 with a 4.37 ERA in 20 appearances last season, including 12 starts. He did face the Cardinals once in relief last May, giving up five runs in 5 2/3 innings in an 11-4 loss, but that wasn't on him to factor into the decision.

"We didn't anticipate needing rotation help this week," Hinch said. "But it came up and we have someone who arguably could have been on the team from the get-go. And now he gets an opportunity to help us. We're very lucky to have someone of his caliber, who's pitched in some of the biggest moments in the last couple of years to come up and be ready to go."

Detroit's Bats Are Hot, But It Won't Help Verlander

There's one silver lining: the Tigers' lineup is waking up. On Saturday, Detroit crushed four home runs in an 11-6 rain-delayed win over St. Louis. Kerry Carpenter, Zach McKinstry, Gleyber Torres, and Matt Vierling each went deep for their first bombs of the season. That's huge considering Detroit had just two home runs, both by catcher Dillon Dingler, in their first seven games.

Montero will face Cardinals right-hander Kyle Leahy (0-1, 7.20 ERA), who's still adjusting to starting after three seasons as a reliever. Leahy gave up four runs and eight hits in five innings against the Mets on Monday in his first start of the season. His fastball velocity dipped from 95.8 mph in the first inning to around 93 mph the rest of the way, a sign he's still building up to the demands of the rotation. Against Detroit in relief work, Leahy is 0-2 with a 10.13 ERA in 2 2/3 innings.

The Tigers go for the sweep Sunday night. Just not with the ace everyone came to see.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.