Tigers Put Justin Verlander on 15-Day Injured List

The Detroit Tigers have announced that Justin Verlander has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to hip inflammation. This placement is retroactive to April 1. Keider Montero has been called up from Triple-A Toledo to replace him on the 26-man roster.

Challenges in Verlander’s Return

This marks a difficult start for Verlander in his comeback to Detroit. In his first start of the season, he lasted only 3 2/3 innings. During that outing, he surrendered six hits and two home runs to the Arizona Diamondbacks, resulting in five earned runs.

Upcoming Matchup and Injury Concerns

Verlander was scheduled to pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals, which would have been his first home appearance in a Tigers uniform since August 2017. While the severity of his hip issue remains uncertain, it adds to a growing list of injuries in his storied career, particularly as he competes in his age-43 season.

• Placed on IL five times in the last four seasons.
• Missed nearly the entire 2020-21 seasons due to Tommy John surgery.
• 2023: Missed five weeks due to a teres major strain.
• 2024: Limited to 90 1/3 innings due to shoulder inflammation.

Despite these setbacks, Verlander has pitched 579 2/3 innings from 2022 to 2025, a notable achievement for any pitcher his age. After winning the AL Cy Young Award in 2022, his only challenging season was 2024 when he still maintained a 3.85 ERA over 152 innings.

Tigers’ Pitching Rotation Depth

The Tigers signed Verlander to a one-year, $13 million contract in February, motivated by both nostalgia and practicality. Reese Olson’s shoulder surgery prompted the need for Verlander’s experience in the starting rotation.

Montero’s Role in the Lineup

With Verlander’s absence, Montero steps in. He has shown himself to be a reliable option, with a 4.57 ERA over 189 innings during two MLB seasons. His performance as a starter is encouraging, posting a 4.05 ERA in 144 1/3 innings compared to a 6.25 ERA as a reliever.

• Olson’s surgery has added strain to the Tigers’ rotation depth.
• Troy Melton is on the 60-day IL.
• Jackson Jobe is recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Fortunately, the Tigers’ top four starters—Tarik Skubal, Framber Valdez, Casey Mize, and Jack Flaherty—remain healthy. As Montero aims to hold the rotation steady, the Tigers are looking forward to Verlander’s eventual return.