Detroit Tigers veteran right-hander Justin Verlander is set to be activated from the injured list and will start Sunday against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park, manager A.J. Hinch announced Tuesday, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press.
It will be Verlander's first home start in a Tigers uniform since Aug. 30, 2017, the day before he was traded to the Houston Astros after 14 seasons in Detroit.
Verlander rejoined the Tigers on a one-year, $13-million contract in February. However, he went on the IL with a hip injury after just one start on the road in late March.
The 43-year-old recently completed a rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo, where he posted a 3.38 ERA with six strikeouts and two walks over 10 2/3 innings.
Verlander is one of the most accomplished pitchers in Tigers history, helping lead the franchise back to prominence in the mid-2000s. He guided Detroit to five playoff appearances and a pair of American League pennants, claiming the 2006 AL Rookie of the Year and capturing the 2011 AL MVP, Cy Young, and pitching Triple Crown with the Tigers.
Detroit traded Verlander to Houston moments before the 2017 waiver trade deadline. With the Astros, he went on to win two more Cy Youngs and a pair of World Series titles.
Verlander, the majors' active leader in wins (266), strikeouts (3,554), and innings pitched (3,571 1/3), put up a 3.85 ERA and 1.36 WHIP with 137 strikeouts across 29 starts for the San Francisco Giants in 2025.
Injuries have hampered Detroit's rotation all season, with ace Tarik Skubal and right-hander Casey Mize among those also missing time. However, Mize is scheduled to return from the IL on Wednesday against the Astros.
