Category: Baseball

Tigers’ Justin Verlander gets date for return to mound

The Detroit Tigers just had Jack Flaherty land on the injured list with a leg injury, and they will now get Justin Verlander back in the rotation to face the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

Verlander will be up against one of the hottest teams in the AL as well as one of the youngest in MLB with an average age of 25.8.

The 43-year-old three-time Cy Young winner has been recovering from left hip inflammation. He only made one start on March 30 this season and has been sidelined from action ever since.

He had a rough outing in his season debut, giving up five runs and allowing eight baserunners across 3.2 innings. He landed on the IL on April 4 (retroactive to April 1), when he was experiencing pain in his left hip.

What to expect from Justin Verlander returning to the rotation

Verlander built up his stamina in Triple-A Toledo, pitching a solid four-tinning simulated game on Monday to demonstrate his readiness to return. Manager A.J. Hinch talked about his veteran starter returning to the mound.

“This is the next step. He’s worked hard to get back to this point. We’ve pushed him. We’ve pushed the volume; we’ve pushed the intensity. And that adrenaline that he talks about and the energy that comes with that start will be good for him,” Hinch said, via MLB.com’s Steve Schaeffer. “And I think it’ll be good for us.”

Verlander hasn’t pitched for the Tigers at Comerica Park since Aug. 20, 2017, but he’ll make his return on Father’s Day.

In his first rehab start, he tossed 64 pitches in five scoreless innings. His second rehab start wasn’t as sharp, as he gave up five hits, four home runs, two walks and threw 86 pitches in 5.2 innings. His fastball averaged at 92.9 mph and topped at 95.5 mph. His fastball also accounted for four of his six swinging strikes, and his average exit velocity hit 92 mph.

Patience will be required as he attempts to adjust to MLB action. The Tigers have had several starters return to the rotation and are looking to implement a possible six-man rotation in order to allow for more rest between starts to keep their starters’ arms sharp. As well, Verlander will provide leadership to younger arms in the rotation such as Troy Melton or Keider Montero.

Vanessa Serrao

Serrao is a freelance baseball writer who has covered all MLB teams, with particular expertise on the Toronto Blue Jays. She is a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America.

June 17, 2026
Tigers’ Justin Verlander gets date for return to mound

The Detroit Tigers just had Jack Flaherty land on the injured list with a leg injury, and they will now get Justin Verlander back in the rotation to face the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

Verlander will be up against one of the hottest teams in the AL as well as one of the youngest in MLB with an average age of 25.8.

The 43-year-old three-time Cy Young winner has been recovering from left hip inflammation. He only made one start on March 30 this season and has been sidelined from action ever since.

He had a rough outing in his season debut, giving up five runs and allowing eight baserunners across 3.2 innings. He landed on the IL on April 4 (retroactive to April 1), when he was experiencing pain in his left hip.

What to expect from Justin Verlander returning to the rotation

Verlander built up his stamina in Triple-A Toledo, pitching a solid four-tinning simulated game on Monday to demonstrate his readiness to return. Manager A.J. Hinch talked about his veteran starter returning to the mound.

“This is the next step. He’s worked hard to get back to this point. We’ve pushed him. We’ve pushed the volume; we’ve pushed the intensity. And that adrenaline that he talks about and the energy that comes with that start will be good for him,” Hinch said, via MLB.com’s Steve Schaeffer. “And I think it’ll be good for us.”

Verlander hasn’t pitched for the Tigers at Comerica Park since Aug. 20, 2017, but he’ll make his return on Father’s Day.

In his first rehab start, he tossed 64 pitches in five scoreless innings. His second rehab start wasn’t as sharp, as he gave up five hits, four home runs, two walks and threw 86 pitches in 5.2 innings. His fastball averaged at 92.9 mph and topped at 95.5 mph. His fastball also accounted for four of his six swinging strikes, and his average exit velocity hit 92 mph.

Patience will be required as he attempts to adjust to MLB action. The Tigers have had several starters return to the rotation and are looking to implement a possible six-man rotation in order to allow for more rest between starts to keep their starters’ arms sharp. As well, Verlander will provide leadership to younger arms in the rotation such as Troy Melton or Keider Montero.

Vanessa Serrao

Serrao is a freelance baseball writer who has covered all MLB teams, with particular expertise on the Toronto Blue Jays. She is a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America.

June 17, 2026
Tigers’ Justin Verlander gets date for return to mound

The Detroit Tigers just had Jack Flaherty land on the injured list with a leg injury, and they will now get Justin Verlander back in the rotation to face the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.

Verlander will be up against one of the hottest teams in the AL as well as one of the youngest in MLB with an average age of 25.8.

The 43-year-old three-time Cy Young winner has been recovering from left hip inflammation. He only made one start on March 30 this season and has been sidelined from action ever since.

He had a rough outing in his season debut, giving up five runs and allowing eight baserunners across 3.2 innings. He landed on the IL on April 4 (retroactive to April 1), when he was experiencing pain in his left hip.

What to expect from Justin Verlander returning to the rotation

Verlander built up his stamina in Triple-A Toledo, pitching a solid four-tinning simulated game on Monday to demonstrate his readiness to return. Manager A.J. Hinch talked about his veteran starter returning to the mound.

“This is the next step. He’s worked hard to get back to this point. We’ve pushed him. We’ve pushed the volume; we’ve pushed the intensity. And that adrenaline that he talks about and the energy that comes with that start will be good for him,” Hinch said, via MLB.com’s Steve Schaeffer. “And I think it’ll be good for us.”

Verlander hasn’t pitched for the Tigers at Comerica Park since Aug. 20, 2017, but he’ll make his return on Father’s Day.

In his first rehab start, he tossed 64 pitches in five scoreless innings. His second rehab start wasn’t as sharp, as he gave up five hits, four home runs, two walks and threw 86 pitches in 5.2 innings. His fastball averaged at 92.9 mph and topped at 95.5 mph. His fastball also accounted for four of his six swinging strikes, and his average exit velocity hit 92 mph.

Patience will be required as he attempts to adjust to MLB action. The Tigers have had several starters return to the rotation and are looking to implement a possible six-man rotation in order to allow for more rest between starts to keep their starters’ arms sharp. As well, Verlander will provide leadership to younger arms in the rotation such as Troy Melton or Keider Montero.

Vanessa Serrao

Serrao is a freelance baseball writer who has covered all MLB teams, with particular expertise on the Toronto Blue Jays. She is a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America.

June 17, 2026
Red Sox-Astros Blockbuster Remains Strong Possibility Despite Past Whiff

Red Sox-Astros Blockbuster Remains Strong Possibility Despite Past Whiff.

News of a past Boston Red Sox trade whiff broke on Sunday, but it shouldn’t signal that hope is lost.

According to a report from Chandler Rome of The Athletic, the Red Sox and Houston Astros previously discussed a three-team trade with the St. Louis Cardinals that would have sent third baseman Isaac Paredes to Boston and second baseman/utility man Brendan Donovan to Houston.

We know, of course, that the trade fell through, and that the Cardinals instead shipped Donovan to the Seattle Mariners. But a lot of smoke, most of it from Rome, has continued to fly around the Paredes-to-Boston possibility in the last 24 hours or so.

Red Sox, Astros still the best trade fit?

In the same piece that reported the failed three-team trade, Rome mentioned that Boston and Houston were not only still engaged on a potential Paredes deal, but looked like the easiest fit of the five teams involved in the two-time All-Star’s market.

“Based on the needs of both teams, Boston remains Houston’s most straightforward trade partner. The Red Sox have a surplus of left-handed hitting outfielders, any of whom would help to strengthen Houston’s most unsettled position group,” Rome wrote.

“Team sources indicated the Astros prefer cost-controlled right fielder Wilyer Abreu, their former farmhand, over Jarren Duran, who will make $7.7 million next season. The Red Sox have not shown a willingness to move Abreu, but either he or Duran would be an obvious upgrade to (the) Houston roster.”

It seems a strong possibility, judging by the entirety of Rome’s reporting, that a three-team deal could be the way to make a swap work. If Duran is going to Houston and Paredes is going to Boston, the Red Sox should theoretically be getting additional surplus value back.

Houston may need to send prospects to that third team, which could package some major league talent (or prospect talent close to the majors) back to Boston.

The situation feels as though it’s approaching a head as spring training arrives this week.

February 9, 2026
Red Sox-Astros Blockbuster Remains Strong Possibility Despite Past Whiff

Red Sox-Astros Blockbuster Remains Strong Possibility Despite Past Whiff.

News of a past Boston Red Sox trade whiff broke on Sunday, but it shouldn’t signal that hope is lost.

According to a report from Chandler Rome of The Athletic, the Red Sox and Houston Astros previously discussed a three-team trade with the St. Louis Cardinals that would have sent third baseman Isaac Paredes to Boston and second baseman/utility man Brendan Donovan to Houston.

We know, of course, that the trade fell through, and that the Cardinals instead shipped Donovan to the Seattle Mariners. But a lot of smoke, most of it from Rome, has continued to fly around the Paredes-to-Boston possibility in the last 24 hours or so.

Red Sox, Astros still the best trade fit?

In the same piece that reported the failed three-team trade, Rome mentioned that Boston and Houston were not only still engaged on a potential Paredes deal, but looked like the easiest fit of the five teams involved in the two-time All-Star’s market.

“Based on the needs of both teams, Boston remains Houston’s most straightforward trade partner. The Red Sox have a surplus of left-handed hitting outfielders, any of whom would help to strengthen Houston’s most unsettled position group,” Rome wrote.

“Team sources indicated the Astros prefer cost-controlled right fielder Wilyer Abreu, their former farmhand, over Jarren Duran, who will make $7.7 million next season. The Red Sox have not shown a willingness to move Abreu, but either he or Duran would be an obvious upgrade to (the) Houston roster.”

It seems a strong possibility, judging by the entirety of Rome’s reporting, that a three-team deal could be the way to make a swap work. If Duran is going to Houston and Paredes is going to Boston, the Red Sox should theoretically be getting additional surplus value back.

Houston may need to send prospects to that third team, which could package some major league talent (or prospect talent close to the majors) back to Boston.

The situation feels as though it’s approaching a head as spring training arrives this week.

February 9, 2026
Three former MLB top prospects whose careers are hanging by a thread

Three former MLB top prospects whose careers are hanging by a thread.

It happens to every team. One season, a highly anticipated prospect rockets his way through the minors. The next, his performance in the majors earns him a bus ride back to Triple-A. After many setbacks and a few years of lackluster performance, the team is forced to contemplate if there is a spot for him on the roster.

This year, three such promising former top prospects with an abundance of talent, but very little to show for it, have fallen into this unenviable category. Let’s take a look what went wrong for these three and why their jobs are in danger.

OF/3B Jordan Walker

MLB Pipeline’s No. 4 prospect in 2023

Walker, the St. Louis Cardinals’ most-anticipated prospect in recent years, showed promise at the major-league level, hitting .276/.342/.445 with 16 home runs in his rookie year in 2023. In 574 plate appearances since then, Walker has struggled to produce, notching just 11 home runs and posting meager on-base percentages of .253 and .278 over those two years. In addition, his once-stellar minor-league numbers have taken a sharp dip; he posted a .185/.267/.352 slash line across Double and Triple-A last year.

Turning 24 this season, Walker is still young as he tries to find his footing. Having sold off numerous important pieces, there is plenty of room on the Cardinals roster for Walker. Still, his poor performance has him battling from behind, fighting for the roster spot he lost in 2024.

OF Jasson Dominguez

MLB Pipeline’s No. 41 prospect in 2024

New York Yankees fans waited for years in anticipation to see “The Martian” land in the Bronx. However, shortly after his debut, fans once more found themselves waiting. A combination of injuries and underperformance limited Dominguez to just 100 MLB plate appearances over his first two years. Finally, in his third season, fans got to see him hold a regular roster spot.

Dominguez hit .257/.331/.388 with 10 home runs and 23 stolen bases in 429 plate appearances last year, coming in 13^th in the Rookie of the Year voting. Despite a promising showing with his bat, there is doubt he will find his way onto the Opening Day roster.

The outfield proved be an obstacle for Dominguez, as he posted -9 outs above average in left field during his long-awaited rookie campaign. If he is to keep his position, his glove will need to greatly improve.

1B Triston Casas

MLB Pipeline’s No. 16 prospect in 2022

Advertised as a potential 40-home-run hitter, sky-high expectations for Casas quickly came crashing to the ground. After a rocky debut year with the Boston Red Sox, Casas broke out in 2023, hitting .267/.367/.490 with 24 home runs. Since then, injuries reduced him to just 355 plate appearances.

On May 3, Casas ruptured his left patellar tendon while sprinting to first base on an error. His injury sidelined him for the rest of the season and is expected to force him to miss a portion of 2026. But it wasn’t his second major injury in as many years that was most worrying.

Prior to falling on the IL, Casas was hitting just .182/.277/.303 with three home runs. This combination of injury and underperformance led the Red Sox to pick up Willson Contreras from the Cardinals. As of now, there is a question of whether or not Casas has a job to come back to. If he is to see significant playing time this season, either by winning the DH spot or splitting time at first with Contreras, his numbers will need to recover.

February 9, 2026
Three former MLB top prospects whose careers are hanging by a thread

Three former MLB top prospects whose careers are hanging by a thread.

It happens to every team. One season, a highly anticipated prospect rockets his way through the minors. The next, his performance in the majors earns him a bus ride back to Triple-A. After many setbacks and a few years of lackluster performance, the team is forced to contemplate if there is a spot for him on the roster.

This year, three such promising former top prospects with an abundance of talent, but very little to show for it, have fallen into this unenviable category. Let’s take a look what went wrong for these three and why their jobs are in danger.

OF/3B Jordan Walker

MLB Pipeline’s No. 4 prospect in 2023

Walker, the St. Louis Cardinals’ most-anticipated prospect in recent years, showed promise at the major-league level, hitting .276/.342/.445 with 16 home runs in his rookie year in 2023. In 574 plate appearances since then, Walker has struggled to produce, notching just 11 home runs and posting meager on-base percentages of .253 and .278 over those two years. In addition, his once-stellar minor-league numbers have taken a sharp dip; he posted a .185/.267/.352 slash line across Double and Triple-A last year.

Turning 24 this season, Walker is still young as he tries to find his footing. Having sold off numerous important pieces, there is plenty of room on the Cardinals roster for Walker. Still, his poor performance has him battling from behind, fighting for the roster spot he lost in 2024.

OF Jasson Dominguez

MLB Pipeline’s No. 41 prospect in 2024

New York Yankees fans waited for years in anticipation to see “The Martian” land in the Bronx. However, shortly after his debut, fans once more found themselves waiting. A combination of injuries and underperformance limited Dominguez to just 100 MLB plate appearances over his first two years. Finally, in his third season, fans got to see him hold a regular roster spot.

Dominguez hit .257/.331/.388 with 10 home runs and 23 stolen bases in 429 plate appearances last year, coming in 13^th in the Rookie of the Year voting. Despite a promising showing with his bat, there is doubt he will find his way onto the Opening Day roster.

The outfield proved be an obstacle for Dominguez, as he posted -9 outs above average in left field during his long-awaited rookie campaign. If he is to keep his position, his glove will need to greatly improve.

1B Triston Casas

MLB Pipeline’s No. 16 prospect in 2022

Advertised as a potential 40-home-run hitter, sky-high expectations for Casas quickly came crashing to the ground. After a rocky debut year with the Boston Red Sox, Casas broke out in 2023, hitting .267/.367/.490 with 24 home runs. Since then, injuries reduced him to just 355 plate appearances.

On May 3, Casas ruptured his left patellar tendon while sprinting to first base on an error. His injury sidelined him for the rest of the season and is expected to force him to miss a portion of 2026. But it wasn’t his second major injury in as many years that was most worrying.

Prior to falling on the IL, Casas was hitting just .182/.277/.303 with three home runs. This combination of injury and underperformance led the Red Sox to pick up Willson Contreras from the Cardinals. As of now, there is a question of whether or not Casas has a job to come back to. If he is to see significant playing time this season, either by winning the DH spot or splitting time at first with Contreras, his numbers will need to recover.

February 9, 2026
Three former MLB top prospects whose careers are hanging by a thread

Three former MLB top prospects whose careers are hanging by a thread.

It happens to every team. One season, a highly anticipated prospect rockets his way through the minors. The next, his performance in the majors earns him a bus ride back to Triple-A. After many setbacks and a few years of lackluster performance, the team is forced to contemplate if there is a spot for him on the roster.

This year, three such promising former top prospects with an abundance of talent, but very little to show for it, have fallen into this unenviable category. Let’s take a look what went wrong for these three and why their jobs are in danger.

OF/3B Jordan Walker

MLB Pipeline’s No. 4 prospect in 2023

Walker, the St. Louis Cardinals’ most-anticipated prospect in recent years, showed promise at the major-league level, hitting .276/.342/.445 with 16 home runs in his rookie year in 2023. In 574 plate appearances since then, Walker has struggled to produce, notching just 11 home runs and posting meager on-base percentages of .253 and .278 over those two years. In addition, his once-stellar minor-league numbers have taken a sharp dip; he posted a .185/.267/.352 slash line across Double and Triple-A last year.

Turning 24 this season, Walker is still young as he tries to find his footing. Having sold off numerous important pieces, there is plenty of room on the Cardinals roster for Walker. Still, his poor performance has him battling from behind, fighting for the roster spot he lost in 2024.

OF Jasson Dominguez

MLB Pipeline’s No. 41 prospect in 2024

New York Yankees fans waited for years in anticipation to see “The Martian” land in the Bronx. However, shortly after his debut, fans once more found themselves waiting. A combination of injuries and underperformance limited Dominguez to just 100 MLB plate appearances over his first two years. Finally, in his third season, fans got to see him hold a regular roster spot.

Dominguez hit .257/.331/.388 with 10 home runs and 23 stolen bases in 429 plate appearances last year, coming in 13^th in the Rookie of the Year voting. Despite a promising showing with his bat, there is doubt he will find his way onto the Opening Day roster.

The outfield proved be an obstacle for Dominguez, as he posted -9 outs above average in left field during his long-awaited rookie campaign. If he is to keep his position, his glove will need to greatly improve.

1B Triston Casas

MLB Pipeline’s No. 16 prospect in 2022

Advertised as a potential 40-home-run hitter, sky-high expectations for Casas quickly came crashing to the ground. After a rocky debut year with the Boston Red Sox, Casas broke out in 2023, hitting .267/.367/.490 with 24 home runs. Since then, injuries reduced him to just 355 plate appearances.

On May 3, Casas ruptured his left patellar tendon while sprinting to first base on an error. His injury sidelined him for the rest of the season and is expected to force him to miss a portion of 2026. But it wasn’t his second major injury in as many years that was most worrying.

Prior to falling on the IL, Casas was hitting just .182/.277/.303 with three home runs. This combination of injury and underperformance led the Red Sox to pick up Willson Contreras from the Cardinals. As of now, there is a question of whether or not Casas has a job to come back to. If he is to see significant playing time this season, either by winning the DH spot or splitting time at first with Contreras, his numbers will need to recover.

February 9, 2026
Just In: How Latest Update on Tarik Skubal Trade Rumors Impacts AL Playoff Picture

Any MLB team interested in trying to acquire Detroit Tigers star pitcher Tarik Skubal might not enjoy the latest update on the likelihood of a trade in the near future.

Skubal is entering his final year under contract with the Tigers as a back-to-back Cy Young Award winner and one of the best pitchers in baseball. He’s coming off consecutive seasons with a sub-2.40 ERA, 31 starts made, at least 192 innings pitched, and over 225 strikeouts.

That makes the notion of the Tigers even possibly contemplating moving Skubal elsewhere incredibly intriguing. But for now, the odds of the 29-year-old being dealt this year are “not great,” according to New York Post columnist Jon Heyman. The MLB Network insider said the price of a Skubal trade is “understandably high” and added “it would take a lot” to get a deal done.

Whether Skubal remains with the Tigers for at least this season or is traded to another team, either outcome will undoubtedly have a massive impact on the league’s playoff picture in 2026.

What the AL Central race looks like with and without Skubal

It may sound simplistic, but if Skubal remains with Detroit for all of 2026, the Tigers should be considered one of the favorites to win the American League Central. They came just one game short of achieving that feat last year, and that was after Detroit’s late-season collapse in conjunction with a remarkable second-half push by the Cleveland Guardians. The Tigers got the last laugh, though, by eliminating Cleveland in the Wild Card Series.

But the AL Central race and playoff picture as a whole could drastically shift if another team offers the substantial prospect package reportedly necessary to pry Skubal from Detroit. If the two-time Cy Young Award winner were to be traded outside of the AL Central, that would seemingly give the Guardians and Kansas City Royals better odds of claiming a division title. And that’s not even factoring in Skubal’s potential destination.

If Skubal got sent to an AL East or AL West contender, that would have huge ramifications on those division races. If he’s dealt to an NL team, the entire playoff picture in both leagues is altered as well. While it’s difficult to get too specific when dealing with pure speculation, it’s no exaggeration to say Skubal is the type of pitcher who’s talented enough to affect the entire league’s standings based on which team he calls home in 2026.

And with each pitch he throws this year, Skubal could have a massive impact on the free agent pitcher market next offseason, as well as his own contract negotiations if an in-season extension isn’t reached.

January 28, 2026
Breaking news: Yankees manager has been tamineted his contract due to…

Breaking News (Fictional): Yankees Manager’s Contract Terminated Following Internal Turmoil

In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through Major League Baseball, the New York Yankees have officially terminated the contract of their manager following what the organization described as “serious internal concerns.” The announcement was made early this morning, immediately igniting speculation across the sports world and leaving fans grappling with uncertainty about the franchise’s future.

According to a brief statement released by the Yankees’ front office, the decision came after weeks of internal review and closed-door meetings involving senior executives and team ownership. While the organization stopped short of revealing full details, it confirmed that the termination was effective immediately, signaling the gravity of the situation.

“This was not a decision taken lightly,” the statement read. “After careful evaluation of recent events and internal standards, the organization determined that a change in leadership was necessary to protect the integrity and direction of the New York Yankees.”

Sources close to the situation suggest that the termination followed mounting tensions within the clubhouse, including disagreements over player management, communication breakdowns with coaching staff, and concerns regarding leadership approach during a turbulent stretch of the season. Insiders describe a fractured environment that ultimately forced ownership to act.

Players were reportedly informed of the decision during an emergency team meeting earlier today. Several veterans were said to be visibly stunned, while others acknowledged that frustrations had been building for some time. One unnamed player described the moment as “surreal,” adding that while the move was shocking, it did not come entirely out of nowhere.

Fans reacted swiftly on social media, with reactions ranging from anger and disbelief to cautious optimism. Some supporters expressed sadness, noting the manager’s past contributions to the team, while others argued that a reset was long overdue for a franchise with championship expectations that have not been met in recent seasons.

Baseball analysts are already debating the long-term impact of the decision. The Yankees, one of the most storied franchises in sports history, now face a critical crossroads. An interim manager is expected to be announced within days, but questions remain about whether this move will stabilize the team or deepen existing challenges.

“This is a defining moment for the organization,” one analyst said. “When a franchise like the Yankees terminates a manager’s contract midstream, it signals deeper issues that go beyond wins and losses.”

As the dust settles, all eyes will be on the Yankees’ next steps—both on and off the field. For now, the termination marks the end of an era and the beginning of an uncertain chapter, one that could reshape the direction of the team for years to come.

January 23, 2026