Tigers Walk Off Pirates in Justin Verlander's Final MLB Start
The short version
- Justin Verlander made his final MLB start Saturday, pitching into the sixth against Pittsburgh.
- His daughter made the pitching change in the sixth, and the Detroit crowd gave an extended ovation.
- Kate Upton called it "a really emotional day" and thanked the city and the fans.
- Detroit won 4-3 on a walk-off; Verlander struck out six and owns 3,560 career regular-season strikeouts.
- Verlander made two starts in 2026 with a 7.00 ERA; the 76-85 Tigers missed the playoffs and finish Sunday against Pittsburgh.
Justin Verlander left his final MLB start to a sixth-inning hug from his daughter, then watched Detroit beat Pittsburgh 4-3 in walk-off fashion.
Justin Verlander made the final start of his Major League Baseball career on Saturday, taking the mound for the Detroit Tigers against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The appearance was his last in the big leagues, and it gave the club and its fans an in-person opportunity to honor a career spent at the sport's highest level.
Verlander handled a starter's workload in the finale, working into the sixth inning against Pittsburgh. His exit from the game arrived in that frame, and it set up the scene that defined the entire day.
The pitching change was a family affair. Verlander's daughter stepped onto the mound to make the substitution herself, and father and daughter wrapped each other in a lengthy hug as the veteran visibly gathered himself. The home crowd responded with an extended ovation as he made his way to the dugout.
Kate Upton, Verlander's wife, put the day into words afterward. "It was a really emotional day, and the things that mean the most to him were together in one place," Upton said, per The Athletic. "I think that's what made it so special." She then turned her attention to the people of Detroit. "I'm just so grateful for the city and to the fans who love him almost as much as I do," she said.
Verlander grew emotional again once the game was over, choking up while speaking with reporters about the moment with his daughter. He also described the atmosphere he felt from his first steps onto the field. "The vibe in the stadium, from the second I walked out there, was just really incredible," Verlander said, per MLB.com. "It brought back some really fond memories of the days when this ballpark was absolutely raucous every single night."
The Tigers made sure the farewell finished with a win. Detroit beat Pittsburgh 4-3 on a walk-off, so Verlander's career closed with his teammates celebrating a victory moments after he had said his goodbyes on the mound.
The start was only Verlander's second of the season for Detroit. He will finish the 2026 campaign with a 7.00 ERA, a year that limited him to a brief stretch of work in a Tigers uniform.
Verlander struck out six hitters in his last start, bringing his career regular-season strikeout total to 3,560. The count spans a big league career that covers more than 20 years.
For Detroit, the ceremony arrived near the end of a losing season. The Tigers are 76-85 and will not reach the playoffs this year. They will close their schedule on Sunday with another game against the Pirates, and a victory would end the season on a winning note.
Games to watch
