The Detroit Tigers are playing out the string of a disappointing season that will end with a bang as legendary starter Justin Verlander will take the mound for his final game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Saturday. Verlander made a 100-pitch declaration that sounds promising for fans attending and hoping to get their money's worth.

Verlander's start is in lock step with the swan songs of other well known MLB pitchers from days gone by, including Royals legend Zack Greinke, who accomplished a similar feat.

“Great note on Justin Verlander: JV starts for the Tigers at home for the first time in nine years, 37 days (since August 20, 2017),” MLB Network writer and former Detroit beat writer Jon Paul Morosi wrote. “Last pitcher to go that long between home starts for a team: Zack Greinke with the Royals, 11 years, 189 days,” he added, quoting Elias Sports Bureau.

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Verlander, who was drafted by Detroit in 2004 out of Old Dominion, pitched with the organization from the time he was a rookie in 2005 to 2017, when he went six innings and struck out 11 batters, giving up two earned runs in a 12-2 road win over the Texas Rangers. He was traded to the Houston Astros where he won the World Series in 2017 and again in 2022 before signing with the Tigers this past offseason.

Saturday's 1:10 p.m. first pitch is expected to be an “emotional” and “important one for Verlander, 43, his manager AJ Hinch said. Verlander has pitched in just one game this season, going 3.2 innings and giving up five earned runs. Fans hope there is still some magic left in his powerful right arm for Saturday afternoon, a game that is expected to bring out emotions not just in the Tigers and MLB legend, but also in the fans who have supported him for nearly two decades.