DETROIT (AP) — Justin Verlander is making progress toward potentially pitching one more time in the last year of his playing career.
Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said the three-time Cy Young Award winner threw as hard as he has in more than a month off the mound on Saturday.
“That was a good sign,” Hinch said Sunday before Detroit wrapped up a series against Colorado.
The Tigers have planned a two-day celebration of Verlander's career when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates in two weeks during the last series of the regular season — and they hope he can pitch.
“We’re aiming for that weekend, which we know will be an emotional and important weekend for him,” Hinch said.
The two-time World Series champion and 2011 AL MVP shared his plans to retire in July, shortly after he was added as a Legend Pick to the American League All-Star roster in his 21st season in the majors.
The right-hander threw on Saturday with hitters standing in the batter's box but not swinging to give him feedback on his pitches.
Verlander went on the injured list with hip inflammation early in the season. When he was nearing a return midway through the season, he pulled a hamstring during a bullpen session.
He was scheduled to pitch in June and make what would have been his first start with the Tigers at Comerica Park since August 30, 2017 — the day before he was traded to the Astros.
The Tigers plan to help Verlander prepare to possibly pitch by having him throw in live batting practice or a simulated game.
“He’s going to pitch through whatever, but we can’t have a setback,” Hinch said.
The 43-year-old Verlander is the oldest player in Major League Baseball. He signed a $13 million, one-year contract to rejoin the Tigers in February and has pitched only once this season. He allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings during a 9-6 road loss at Arizona on March 30.
Verlander went 183-115 from 2005 to 2017 with the Tigers. He won the AL Rookie of the Year award in 2006 and both the AL MVP and Cy Young Award in 2011. He helped Detroit reach the World Series in 2006 and 2012, along with four straight division titles from 2011-14.
He was the 2017 ALCS MVP in Houston and helped the Astros win the World Series that year and was a key player for them when they won another title in 2022. He won his second and third Cy Young Awards in 2019 and 2022.
Verlander has a career record of 266-159 with a 3.33 ERA in 556 starts playing for the Tigers, Astros, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants. He has 3,554 strikeouts while tossing 26 complete games, including nine shutouts.
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FILE - Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, center, acknowledges the crowd during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, on Aug. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn, File)
DEN BOSCH, Netherlands (AP) — Lottie Woad assured it. Carlota Ciganda sealed it.
Vamos! The Solheim Cup is back in the hands of Team Europe.
The blue wave came early in the Sunday singles at Bernardus Golf and never really went away, with Woad holing a putt from 2 feet on No. 17 to win her match and guarantee the Europeans would be reaching the 14 1/2 points needed to reclaim the crystal trophy from the United States.
Woad punched the air and jumped into the arms of her teammates who flooded onto the green in celebration.
Victory was official about 10 minutes later when Ciganda, who had the decisive point when Europe retained the Solheim Cup in 2023, got the team past the winning target three years later. She completed a 4-and-2 victory over Jennifer Kupcho, the feisty American who had roared “Vamos!” ("Let's go!") when holing an outrageous 93-foot putt on the way to beating Ciganda in the four-balls on Saturday.
“Today I was really motivated to beat her,” Ciganda said, “because I knew it was going to be important.”
The Europeans have now won three of the last five editions, the only loss in that stretch coming in Virginia two years ago. The U.S. team didn't have possession of the crystal trophy for long and is still without a win on the road since 2015.
The teams were tied at 8-8 after two days and set out Sunday in heavy rain for the singles, with Europe going out fast, putting blue all over the scoreboard and ultimately winning six of the first eight matches.
Early wins for Charley Hull and Linn Grant laid the platform for victory, the only wobble for Europe coming when U.S. player Alison Lee came from 4 down after 11 holes to beat Esther Henseleit, 1 up, for the greatest comeback in Solheim Cup history.
Rookies contributed massively for Europe all week and especially Sunday, with Woad, Nastasia Nadaud and Julia Lopez Ramirez all winning matches in the singles.
“I think it’s been one of the best teams that we’ve had in the last few years,” Ciganda said. “Everyone just a unit, a team. That’s what Europe is about.”
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Carlota Ciganda of Europe embraces her caddie on the 16th green after beating Jennifer Kupcho of the United States in a singles match during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Carlota Ciganda of Europe reacts as she walks onto the 16th green during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Nelly Korda of the United States misses a putt on the 15th green during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Linn Grant of Europe embraces Angel Yin of the United States after winning their singles match during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Nelly Korda of the United States plays from the 8th tee during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Linn Grant of Europe celebrates as she leaves the 6th green during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Esther Henseleit of Europe plays from the 1st tee during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Alison Lee of the United States plays from the 1st tee during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Europe fans gather in the rain on the 1st tee on the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Spectators gather in the rain on the 1st tee on the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Charley Hull of Europe plays from the 1st tee during the final day of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Maja Stark, right, and Linn Grant of Europe celebrate after putting on the 15th green during the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Andrea Lee, right, bumps fists with Yealimi Noh of the United States after holing a putt on the 9th green during the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Charley Hull of Europe plays from a bunker near the 8th green during the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Europe supporters stand along the course on day two of the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Jennifer Kupcho of the United States celebrates after holing a putt on the 18th green during the Solheim Cup in Den Bosch, Netherlands, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
