Justin Verlander closes Tigers career with final start at Comerica Park
The short version
- Justin Verlander, 43, made his final Tigers start Saturday, his 382nd appearance for Detroit, all starts.
- He threw three scoreless innings before allowing two solo home runs and received an ovation when removed mid-game.
- He ranks 2nd in Tigers history in WAR (about 56.4) and strikeouts (2,379).
- He is 7th in wins (183), 8th in WHIP (1.192) and innings (2,520), and 11th in appearances.
The 43-year-old right-hander made his 382nd and final start for Detroit, closing a 21-year MLB career that places him near the top of several franchise leaderboards.
Justin Verlander made his final start for the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, September 26, at Comerica Park against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 43-year-old right-hander was closing out his 21st major league season in what was his 382nd appearance for the club, all of them starts.
Verlander opened with three scoreless innings before giving up a home run to the first batter of the fourth inning, then another solo shot later in his outing. Manager A.J. Hinch removed him in the middle innings, allowing the Comerica Park crowd to give the veteran a final ovation as he left the mound.
The last batter Verlander faced was Pittsburgh second baseman Brandon Lowe. According to the source, that out came 7,754 days after Verlander recorded his first career out in Detroit, a popout to short off the bat of Cleveland center fielder Grady Sizemore.
By Baseball Reference's measure, Verlander finishes second in franchise history in Wins Above Replacement at approximately 56.4, behind only Hal Newhouser's 58.8. He is also second in strikeouts with 2,379, trailing Mickey Lolich's 2,679, and seventh in wins with 183.
Verlander ranks eighth among Tigers in WHIP at 1.192, level with Bill Donovan and just ahead of former rotationmate Max Scherzer at 1.197. Current Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal holds the franchise lead in that category at 1.012. Verlander's 8.496 strikeouts per nine innings ranks fourth, behind Skubal, Scherzer and Matthew Boyd.
He sits eighth in innings pitched with 2,520 and 11th in appearances with 382, well behind franchise leader John Hiller's 545. In home runs allowed he ranks third with 243, behind Jack Morris and Lolich, reflecting the home run-heavy era in which he pitched. He also walks away ninth in losses with 115 and ninth in hits allowed with 2,236.
Verlander's final ledger includes 26 complete games and seven shutouts, tied for 36th in franchise history. He also issued 769 walks, ninth most by a Tiger.
The Pirates and Tigers continue their series on Sunday, September 27 at 3:10 PM EDT at Comerica Park. The game airs on MLB.TV and Tigers.TV.
Games to watch
