Verlander second – Justin Verlander’s next start for the Detroit Tigers will still come via Triple-A Toledo, with a second rehab outing scheduled for Wednesday after he returned from a left-hip inflammation spell that began April 1.
Justin Verlander wanted the next step to be simple. He pitched as scheduled in Triple-A Toledo, got through the first rehab start quickly, and left feeling ready to rejoin Detroit’s rotation.
But the Tigers’ front office and medical staff didn’t see the work as finished yet.
Verlander. Detroit’s 43-year-old right-hander. is set to make a second rehab start with Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday before he’s cleared for a major-league return. He has been on the injured list since April 1 with left hip inflammation. and his path back has been carefully staged even as his “MLB itch” has grown.
Last week, Verlander’s first rehab outing in Toledo came against the Iowa Cubs. He delivered five scoreless innings and needed only 64 pitches to complete the start. The efficiency sounded like a green light. It wasn’t.
“I would like to pitch, but I guess I pitched too efficiently in the 60-something pitches (in his first rehab start), which sucks. Like, I did too well. But they want some more volume, and I think that’s fair,” Verlander said.
That quote captures the heart of the delay: Verlander felt he could step back into a major-league rhythm. while the organization prioritized volume over speed. Manager AJ Hinch made the point directly in the team’s thinking. stressing that 64 pitches against Triple-A competition doesn’t match the same workload expected in the majors.
Detroit’s target for Wednesday is for Verlander to reach roughly 70 to 80 pitches and work into the sixth inning. The outing is scheduled against the St. Paul Saints, the Triple-A affiliate of the Twins.
The Tigers’ goal isn’t complicated, even if it’s frustrating for a player who has been waiting. Verlander has already checked the health boxes, but building endurance for a full major-league workload remains the final gate.
Before rehab even began, he threw multiple simulated games as part of his progression back to game action. During the first Triple-A start, he said he was pleased with both his physical recovery and his mechanical execution. Now the remaining objective is simply building endurance.
For Detroit, the timing also shifted because of weather. Forecasted heavy rain in Toledo forced adjustments to several rehab schedules, pushing Verlander’s next outing to Wednesday.
His absence from the Tigers has already lasted longer than the casual fan might guess. Verlander hasn’t appeared for Detroit since March 30. when he started against the Arizona Diamondbacks in what remains his only major-league outing of the 2026 season. After that game, hip inflammation kept him out for more than two months.
If Verlander reaches the desired pitch count without setbacks. he could rejoin Detroit’s rotation during the team’s road series against the Houston Astros on June 15 or 16. That would end a lengthy wait for a pitcher who returned to the organization on a one-year. $13 million contract after spending the 2025 season with the San Francisco Giants.
The storyline right now is all about volume: a first rehab start that looked ready, followed by a second one meant to make sure the next step isn’t just soon—it’s sustainable.
Justin Verlander Detroit Tigers Triple-A Toledo Toledo Mud Hens St. Paul Saints Iowa Cubs rehab start left hip inflammation AJ Hinch MLB return Houston Astros June 15 June 16