Detroit, MI
Justin Verlander placed on injured list for Tigers with hip issue
Alex Avila: Detroit Tigers’ Justin Verlander is leader as teammate
On “Days of Roar,” former Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila shares how legendary pitcher Justin Verlander has matured in his clubhouse leadership.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander has been placed on the 15-day injured list with left hip inflammation.
Keider Montero will be called up and is expected to start Sunday, April 5, against the St. Louis Cardinals at Comerica Park.
It will be retroactive to April 1, so the earliest Verlander will be eligible to return is April 16.
Verlander has already pitched once this season, although his first start was forgettable. He gave up five runs off six hits in 3⅔ innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He struggled with his command, throwing 80 pitches (53 for strikes) while recording one strikeout with two walks. Since then, he has worked on his mechanics.
“Head position,” he said Saturday. “Trying to be a little more deceptive and stay in line a little bit longer.”
The Diamondbacks hit Verlander hard, making contact with seven balls that featured an exit velocity over 100 mph.
“It wasn’t good enough,” Verlander said. “I hope it’s not like last year … months trying to find it. Hopefully I find it a little quicker than that. But yeah, you know, I think talking to analysts and those guys and the stuff is actually pretty good, so not too far away. I hope.”
Verlander, 43, signed a one-year deal with the Tigers this offseason, returning to the franchise he spent his first 13 seasons with. He made 29 starts in 2025 for the San Francisco Giants.
And he was expected to start Sunday night against the Cardinals in Comerica Park in front of a national audience on “Sunday Night Baseball” on Peacock, NBC’s streaming service.
Montero was optioned to Triple-A by the Tigers on March 4, with the franchise planning on him as their No. 6 starter in the rotation.
“We’ve got to protect our rotation,” Hinch said when Montero was sent to Toledo. “For him, defining the role where we felt like he can help us the most was going to be, at some point, in our rotation. Whether that’s getting called up as a sixth starter, or god forbid anything happens, he’s equipped to handle that, and the only way to do that is get him going and building him as a starter.”
In 2025, Montero registered a 4.37 ERA with 31 walks and 72 strikeouts across 90⅔ innings in 20 games (12 starts) for the Tigers. He also logged a 5.91 ERA across 42⅔ innings in 10 games (eight starts) for Triple-A Toledo.
Montero has made one start for Toledo, throwing four scoreless innings against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on March 29. He struck out three with one walk.
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff
Detroit Tigers’ Scott Harris explains Kevin McGonigle contact extension
Detroit Tigers president Scott Harris breaks down contract extension for Kevin McGonigle on April 15, 2026, at Comerica Park in Detroit.
CINCINNATI – The Detroit Tigers were nearly swept by the Cincinnati Reds.
Hao-Yu Lee saved the day.
The 23-year-old hit the first home run of his MLB career – a pinch-hit, go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning that carried the Tigers to an 8-3 win over the Reds on Sunday, April 26, in the finale of the three-game series at Great American Ball Park.
The milestone homer from Lee produced the first two of six runs across the seventh and eighth innings. The Tigers (15-14) salvaged the series against the Reds (18-10) while completing a stretch of 13 games in 13 days.
Next up, the Tigers will travel to clash with the Atlanta Braves in a three-game series at Truist Park, beginning Tuesday (7:15 p.m., Detroit SportsNet/TBS). The probable pitchers for the series: right-hander Casey Mize (Tuesday), followed by left-handers Tarik Skubal (Wednesday) and Framber Valdez (Thursday).
In Sunday’s game, the Tigers’ four-run seventh inning changed everything.
A fielding error allowed Gleyber Torres – the leadoff hitter – to reach safely, setting up the big inning. Manager A.J. Hinch called for Hao-Yu Lee to pinch-hit for Colt Keith, securing the matchup advantage against left-handed reliever Sam Moll.
The decision paid off.
Lee has a track record of crushing left-handers in the minor leagues, and in this situation, he delivered his first home run in the big leagues. He pushed an up-and-away 90.7 mph fastball the opposite way for a two-run home run, hitting it 402 feet to right-center field with a 105.8 mph exit velocity.
The two-run homer gave the Tigers a 4-3 lead.
Spencer Torkelson kept the offense firing for a 5-3 lead with a solo home run off right-handed reliever Pierce Johnson, who replaced Moll to get the matchup advantage with Torkelson.
But Torkelson won the battle.
He attacked a middle-up 94.9 mph fastball and pulled it 421 feet to left-center field with a 107.3 mph exit velocity.
It was Torkelson’s fifth game in a row with a home run.
That tied a franchise record, joining Marcus Thames (2008), Willie Horton (1969), Vic Wertz (1950), Hank Greenberg (1940) and Rudy York (1937).
Celebrate 125 seasons of Tigers magic!
Torkelson’s five homers have all come on fastballs – three sinkers and two four-seamers –located on the inner half of the plate.
His swing is on time.
And he keeps doing damage.
The Tigers weren’t done scoring.
A triple from Kerry Carpenter and a sacrifice fly from Matt Vierling extended the Tigers’ lead to 6-3 in the seventh, then a walk from Kevin McGonigle and a two-run home run from Gleyber Torres extended the margin to 8-3 in the eighth inning.
Torres hit an elevated 94.6 mph fastball from right-handed reliever Jose Franco for his second homer in 27 games.
It was another opposite-field home run.
To get to the finish line, the Tigers turned to four relievers out of the bullpen for the final four innings: left-hander Brant Hurter in the sixth, right-hander Will Vest in the seventh, right-hander Kyle Finnegan in the eighth and right-hander Brenan Hanifee in the ninth.
The Tigers recalled Hanifee from Triple-A Toledo before Sunday’s game, replacing right-handed reliever Connor Seabold (placed on the 15-day injured list with left ankle inflammation).
Hanifee worked around a one-out single to end the game.
Striking early
The Tigers struck first for a 2-0 lead in the first inning, facing right-hander Rhett Lowder.
It began with a one-out single from Torres.
With two outs, three consecutive baserunners reached safely with Riley Greene’s single and Torkelson’s walk to load the bases, followed by a two-run double from Carpenter off Lowder’s changeup at the bottom of the strike zone.
After Carpenter’s double, Vierling lined out to end the first inning, stranding two runners in scoring position. In the second inning, Colt Keith grounded out to strand two runners after back-to-back singles from McGonigle and Torres with two outs.
From there, Lowder settled in against the Tigers.
Lowder allowed two runs on six hits and one walk with seven strikeouts across five innings, throwing 94 pitches. The 24-year-old has a 3.18 ERA through six starts.
The Reds responded to the Tigers with one run apiece in the second, fourth and fifth innings, facing right-hander Keider Montero.
In the second, Nathaniel Lowe battled for eight pitches before hitting Montero’s hanging curveball in a full count for a solo home run to right-center field. His fourth homer of the series (and his fourth of the season) cut the Reds’ deficit to 2-1.
In the fourth, JJ Bleday stepped to the plate with two outs and worked a full count before hitting Montero’s elevated fastball for a solo home run to center field. His first homer of the season tied the game, 2-2.
In the fifth, Ke’Bryan Hayes hit a triple to right field off Montero’s first-pitch sinker, then scored on Matt McLain’s double off Montero’s two-strike slider at the bottom of the zone. Those swings put the Reds ahead, 3-2.
Montero allowed three runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts across five innings, throwing 86 pitches. All five hits were extra-base hits, including a pair of home runs from left-handed hitters.
The 25-year-old owns a 4.00 ERA through five starts.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Watch Steve Yzerman, Todd McLellan thoughts on 2025-26 Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman and coach Todd McLellan on April 23, 2026 in Detroit.
There was a little moment of levity at the end of the press conference held by general manager Steve Yzerman and coach Todd McLellan to discuss the 2025-26 Detroit Red Wings.
They had just wrapped up about 45 minutes of answering reporters’ questions on Thursday, April 23 when a last, lighthearted one was lobbed at McLellan. He’d been fidgeting with his notebook, and was asked if reporters could see it. “You won’t be able to read it,” McLellan said, smiling.
“It’s not worth looking at,” Yzerman said, laughing. “I’ve seen it all year.”
Ultimately, the notes on this season’s squad could be summed up by three words: iot good enough. That’s as a group. Individually, some players fared well in their final grades – Alex DeBrincat, for one, aced things with the way he competed and produced.
Here, then, are the final grades for the men who finished the season with the Red Wings.
F Mason Appleton: D
Stats: 6 goals, 8 assists, minus-4 rating in 65 games.
Contract: $2.9 million average annual value through 2026-27.
Buzz: Was supposed bring an edge and a bit of scoring, but made next to no impact in the second half, with just three points from the start of January.
D Jacob Bernard-Docker: C
Stats: 1 goal, 4 assists, even rating in 63 games.
Contract: $1.6 million AAV through 2027-28.
Buzz: Serviceable third-pairing defenseman.
D Ben Chiarot: B
Stats: 5 goals, 10 assists, minus-9 in 82 games.
Contract: $3.85 million AAV through 2028-29.
The buzz: Generally gives a hard effort, and plays with an edge.
F J.T. Compher: D
Stats: 11 goals, 17 assists, minus-13 in 82 games.
Contract: $5.1 million AAV through 2027-28.
Buzz: Not good enough to play in the top six, doesn’t contribute enough in the bottom six.
F Andrew Copp: C+
Stats: 9 goals, 34 assists, plus-3 in 79 games.
Contract: $5.625 million AAV through 2026-27.
Buzz: Found a role centering the second line but needs to be more consistent.
F Alex DeBrincat: A
Stats: 41 goals, 44 assists, plus-8 in 82 games.
Contract: $7.875 million AAV through 2026-27.
Buzz: Shows up every shift, always plays competitive hockey and the most consistent scoring threat on the team.
D Simon Edvinsson: B+
Stats: 9 goals, 16 assists, plus-12 in 72 games.
Contract: Restricted free agent.
Buzz: Big and rangy and works hard, but really needs to work on taking fewer penalties, because he had some doozies.
D Justin Faulk: B
Stats: 5 goals, 3 assists, minus-5 in 17 games with Wings.
Contract: $6.5 million AAV through 2026-27.
Buzz: Came in at the trade deadline and immediately improved the top-four defense corps at both ends of the ice.
F Emmitt Finnie: B+
Stats: 13 goals, 17 assists, minus-10 in 82 games.
Contract: $821,667 AAV through 2027-28.
Buzz: The rookie overall did well, though there were times during the season the former seventh-round pick faded. Much more suited to playing on a third line than on the first.
G John Gibson: A-
Stats: 29-22-4 with a 2.72 goals-against average and .901 save percentage in 57 games.
Contract: $6.4 million AAV through 2027-28.
Buzz: Let’s be clear – since he found his groove at Thanksgiving, Gibson was the reason the Wings looked like they were going to make the playoffs. He bailed out his teammates time and again, only slipping a bit towards the end.
D Travis Hamonic: D
Stats: 2 assists, minus-11 in 26 games.
Contract: Unrestricted free agent.
Buzz: Spent most of his time as a healthy scratch.
D Albert Johansson: C+
Stats: 3 goals, 8 assists, minus-18 in 82 games.
Contract: $1.125 million AAV through 2026-27.
Buzz: Could be harder against opponents considering he does not see top matchups.
F Patrick Kane: B+
Stats: 16 goals, 41 assists, minus-1 in 67 games.
Contract: Unrestricted free agent.
Buzz: The 37-year-old was the team’s second-leading scorer with 25 points the last 26 games (behind DeBrincat’s 28). A clutch performer whose biggest issue is staying healthy, but at around $3 million, he’s well worth the investment.
F Marco Kasper: C-
Stats: 9 goals, 10 assists, minus-20 in 81 games.
Contract: $886,666 AAV through 2026-27.
Buzz: There was a slight uptick in his second-half play, but all in all, a disappointing sophomore season from a player the Wings hope can develop into a solid two-way center.
F Dylan Larkin: B+
Stats: 34 goals, 33 assists, plus-3 in 74 games.
Contract: $8.7 million AAV through 2030-31.
Buzz: Dealt with injuries down the stretch, but his work ethic never faltered. For those who don’t think he’s a No. 1 center, name 32 who are better.
F Carter Mazur: C+
Stats: No points, minus-3 in eight games.
Contract: Restricted free agent.
Buzz: Brought energy, but was put in a tough position when he was asked to help a team flailing after his call-up in late March.
F David Perron: D
Stats: 3 goals, minus-9 in 16 games with the Wings.
Contract: Unrestricted free agent.
Buzz: After undergoing sports hernia surgery in January, the trade-deadline acquisition just wasn’t able to bring the energy or scoring the Wings sought from their popular former teammate.
F Michael Rasmussen: D
Stats: 6 goals, 8 assists, minus-10 in 64 games.
Contract: $3.2 million AAV through 2027-28.
Buzz: Doesn’t bring nearly enough to the lineup. Had one point in the 28 games from Jan. 1 to the end of the season.
F Lucas Raymond: B
Stats: 25 goals, 51 assists, plus-1 in 80 games.
Contract: $8.075 million AAV through 2031-32.
Buzz: For a second straight year, he faltered coming out of an international event in February (4 Nations Face-Off in 2025, Olympics in 2026), with just 16 points the last 24 games.
D Axel Sandin-Pellikka: C
Stats: 7 goals, 14 assists, minus-20 in 68 games.
Contract: $918,333 AAV through 2027-28.
Buzz: Tons of talent, but the rookie’s risky maneuvers were anxiety-inducing.
D Moritz Seider: A
Stats: 10 goals, 50 assists, plus-15 in 82 games.
Contract: $8.55 million AAV through 2030-31.
The buzz: An absolute gem who delivers in all facets of the game. Had a career season, stats-wise
F Dominik Shine: C+
Stats: 3 goals, even rating in 18 games.
Contract: $875,000 AAV through 2027-28.
Buzz: Provided energy as a grinder.
G Cam Talbot: C
Stats: 12-9-6 with a 3.19 GAA and .883 save percentage in 34 games.
Contract: Unrestricted free agent.
Buzz: Wasn’t relied on much down the stretch and faced some tough assignments.
F James van Riemsdyk: C
Stats: 15 goals, 16 assists, minus-17 in 72 games.
Contract: Unrestricted free agents.
Buzz: 15 goals for $1 million (his salary in 2025-26) is quite respectable, but there was only one goal after the Olympic break. Plays big and goes to the net, like Tomas Holmstrom could attest, but he can’t be effective in that spot if teammates don’t get the puck there.
Coaching staff: B
Buzz: Todd McLellan and his staff emphasized three things from the start of camp: Be tougher to play against physically, mental toughness and game management. There were signs of improvement and resilience from players, but also signs of not being able to implement those facets when it mattered most – in March and April. McLellan and his staff has done the utmost to hold players accountable, and the failure to reach the playoffs reflects much more on players than McLellan.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com.
Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter.
Her books: “The Franchise: Detroit Red Wings, A Curated History of Hockeytown,” and “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” and “The Big 50: The Men and Moments that made the Detroit Red Wings” are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.
The Detroit Lions’ 2026 NFL draft class is in the books, and the team used seven draft picks to fill needs and add depth throughout the roster. General manager Brad Holmes got to work in the middle of the first round by grabbing their right tackle of the future, and then snagged a high upside edge in the second round. On Day 3, Detroit added more depth at linebacker, corner, slot receiver, and added a couple of defensive linemen.
Here’s a look at the team’s 2026 draft class:
Throughout the offseason, SB Nation will host surveys for NFL fans, sponsored by the folks over at FanDuel Sportsbook, who currently have the Lions listed as +1800 to win this year’s Super Bowl, +850 to win the NFC Championship, and +150 to win the NFC North as the current favorites.
For Pride of Detroit, we are tasked with fielding questions from Lions fans, and with the NFL Draft now in the rearview mirror, our question for this week’s survey is…
How would you grade the Lions’ 2026 NFL Draft?
Please vote in the survey below, share your feedback in the comments, and check back on Monday for the results.
Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Detroit Lions fans and fans across the country. If you want to get these surveys emailed to you weekly, you can sign up here.
-
Politics4 minutes ago‘Shots Fired!’: Inside the Pandemonium at the Washington Hilton
-
Business10 minutes agoConfusion and Fright at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner After Shots Were Fired
-
Lifestyle40 minutes agoSunday Puzzle: Blank to blank
-
Technology52 minutes agoGoogle’s new gradient icon design is coming to more apps
-
World58 minutes agoHormuz crisis spurs $24B Iraq trade corridor as Gulf routes shift
-
Politics1 hour agoObama says motive unclear despite manifesto outlining alleged targets in WHCD shooting
-
Health1 hour agoHighly contagious stomach bug surges in US as some groups face severe effects
-
Sports1 hour agoTrevor Bauer throws no-hitter for Long Island Ducks in just second US start since 2021