The Detroit Tigers bid goodbye to their star pitcher Justin Verlander on Saturday. Verlander got his final start in a Major League Baseball game, going for five-plus innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Verlander's wife Kate Upton spoke about what the moment was like when Verlander left the game.
“It was a really emotional day, and the things that mean the most to him were together in one place,” Upton said, per The Athletic. “I think that’s what made it so special.”
Verlander's daughter came out to the mound in the sixth inning, to take Verlander out of the game. The two shared a long hug, and Verlander appeared to get emotional. The Tigers pitcher then fought back tears as he talked to reporters after the game about that moment.
Detroit's crowd also gave Verlander a long ovation. The Tigers would win in a walk-off against the Pirates, 4-3.
“I’m just so grateful for the city and to the fans who love him almost as much as I do,” Upton said.
Justin Verlander loved his last outing for the Tigers
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Verlander started just two games for Detroit this season. He will end his 2026 campaign with a 7.00 ERA. Despite his limited time on the mound this season, Verlander soaked in every moment of Saturday's start.
“The vibe in the stadium, from the second I walked out there, was just really incredible,” Verlander said, per MLB.com. “It brought back some really fond memories of the days when this ballpark was absolutely raucous every single night.”
The Tigers pitcher ends a remarkable career that started more than 20 years ago. He finished his start Saturday with six strikeouts. Verlander now has 3,560 career regular season strikeouts.
Detroit will miss the Major League Baseball Playoffs this season. The Tigers are 76-85 on the campaign. The team will try to end the season with a win on Sunday against the Pirates.