Diamondbacks strike Justin Verlander early in Tigers return

Future Hall-of-Famer struggles in first Detroit start since 2017

Mar. 31, 2026 at 3:48am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the fractured, multi-angled movements of a baseball pitcher's delivery, with sharp planes of dark blue, green, and orange abstracting the form.Verlander's return to the mound for the Tigers hits an early snag as the Diamondbacks' hitters make solid contact against the veteran pitcher.Phoenix Today

In his first start for the Detroit Tigers since 2017, veteran pitcher Justin Verlander was hit hard early by the Arizona Diamondbacks, surrendering five runs on five hits, including a three-run home run, through just three innings of work. Verlander, who admitted to feeling 'nervous' before the game, saw his fastball velocity dip as the Diamondbacks hitters made solid contact throughout his outing.

Why it matters

Verlander, a future Hall of Famer, is expected to be a key part of the Tigers' starting rotation this season as they look to return to the playoffs. His early struggles against the Diamondbacks raise questions about whether the 43-year-old still has enough left in the tank to be effective at the major league level.

The details

In the first inning, Verlander allowed two runs on 28 pitches, with his fastball averaging just 93.2 mph. Things only got worse in the third inning, when he gave up a three-run home run to Corbin Carroll. Verlander was pulled with two outs in the fourth inning, trailing 5-0. Overall, he allowed seven of the eight hardest hit balls of the game in his brief outing.

  • Verlander's last start for the Tigers was on August 30, 2017.
  • Monday's game against the Diamondbacks was Verlander's first start for the Tigers since that 2017 outing, a span of 3,135 days.

The players

Justin Verlander

A future Hall of Fame pitcher who is making his return to the Detroit Tigers after last playing for the team in 2017. The 43-year-old is expected to be a key part of the Tigers' starting rotation this season.

Corbin Carroll

A young outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks who hit a three-run home run off Verlander in the third inning.

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What they’re saying

“I'm an emotional person. Walking on the field (Monday), walking to the dugout got me a little bit ... that caught me by surprise a tad. I embrace that. It's who I am and it's fun.”

— Justin Verlander, Tigers pitcher

What’s next

Verlander will look to bounce back in his next start, as the Tigers hope the veteran can regain his form and provide stability to their starting rotation.

The takeaway

Verlander's early struggles against the Diamondbacks are a concerning sign for the Tigers, as they had hoped the future Hall of Famer would provide a veteran presence and consistency to their pitching staff. The team will need Verlander to find his rhythm quickly if they want to compete in the AL Central this season.