KANSAS CITY, MO – Detroit Tigers right-hander Justin Verlander finally returned to a competitive setting.
The 43-year-old faced hitters in a simulated game Saturday, May 9, his first time since being placed on the injured list. He hadn’t pitched against live competition since March 30 in his first and only start of the 2026 season.
This time, Verlander threw 38 pitches.
“I wasn’t as sharp as I would like to be,” Verlander said before Saturday’s game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. “Physically, it was another step in the right direction. Check the box and keep moving forward.”
All eight batters put the ball in play in the simulated game, which lasted two innings.
The Tigers placed Verlander on the 15-day injured list April 4, retroactive to April 1, with left hip inflammation. The 21-year MLB veteran is expected to need at least one start on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo before returning to the Tigers.
It’s unclear what’s next for Verlander, but he isn’t ready for a rehab assignment yet.
In Saturday’s session, Verlander matched up with infielder Hao-Yu Lee and outfielder Wenceel Pérez. He threw 17 pitches in the first inning and 21 pitches in the second inning, generating just four swings and misses.
Each batter received four plate appearances.
In the first, Pérez hit a fly ball to right field that could’ve been a double, and in the second, Lee crushed a line drive to left-center field that would’ve been a double and drove a ground ball up the middle that could’ve been a single.
Verlander didn’t walk any batters.
He also didn’t produce any strikeouts.
Verlander signed a one-year, $13 million contract in early February, returning to the Tigers for the first time since being traded in September 2017.
He previously pitched for the Tigers from 2005-17.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Justin Verlander update: Simulated game checks box in injury rehab