CHICAGO – Detroit Tigers legend Justin Verlander will pitch the final game of his career in Comerica Park against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, Sept. 26 – the second to last day of the season.
And River Ryan, one of the players the Tigers got in the Tarik Skubal trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, will make his Tigers debut on Monday in Comerica Park against the Washington Nationals.
Verlander will start Saturday, if he has no setbacks. Verlander has announced that he is retiring after this season.
“We’re aiming for Saturday,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Sunday, Sept. 20 at Rate Field. “Now we have to be cognizant of the things he has to do in order to get there, and he's answered every test. We're going to push him a little bit harder
on the bullpen midweek. But I think it's important to be transparent with what our plans are and where he's at."
The Tigers, one loss from being eliminated from American League playoff race, are holding a two-day celebration of Verlander's career when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sept. 25-26, at Comerica Park. The celebration includes two giveaways – a Verlander bobblehead for Friday's game and a long-sleeved hooded jersey for Saturday's game.
The veteran right-hander threw a one-inning simulated game against two teammates at Rate Field on Friday, Sept. 18, and the Tigers were encouraged by his performance.
Verlander will have an up and down bullpen this week
“So still in pencil because, again,. we've gone down this path health-wise,” Hinch said. “We also want to be transparent with our plans for him and and a fun weekend celebrating.”
Ryan, 28, start the game Monday and Keider Montero will also pitch Monday.
“Keider will be used in some capacity because it's his start date as well, but River will start,” Hinch said. “We've let him know and prepped him for that, so he'll report tomorrow. Normally, we would like to bring somebody in for an acclimation day, especially somebody like River who doesn't know the entire organization. But given the travel and the rain in Chicago, quick turnaround tomorrow, we'll see him first thing tomorrow.”
Ryan pitched four games for the Dodgers in 2024. He has pitched two games with Triple-A Toledo, although just 4 2/3 innings. “He's very talented,” Hinch said. “The next test for him is to come and hopefully get a couple outings over the course of the week, albeit shorter than a normal start, He's using his pitches. He's recovering fine. He's throwing his normal bullpens, and of course, we want to get him around our team. And because we expect him to be a big part of what we're doing moving forward. He's been in the big leagues before, so it's not like a debut, but it will feel like it, given you know he's brand new to the organization.”
Jack Flaherty is also expected to pitch this coming week.
“Sometime next weekend,” Hinch said. “We're you know we're going to get him an outing. So I don't know what day, depending on how the whole week plays out, but he's done everything that we've asked to, and he was excellent yesterday, both in how he felt and the stuff coming out of his hand.”
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Justin Verlander to start Saturday for Tigers in final appearance
