{
  "id": 10078878,
  "title": "How Justin Verlander's grand finale stacks up with other Tigers icons",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/how-justin-verlanders-grand-finale-stacks-up-with-other-tigers-icons",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-26T22:34:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/justin-verlanders-grand-finale-stacks-223458693.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Detroit — Justin Verlander's final start of his Major League Baseball career on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Comerica Park, was a memorable sendoff for the future Hall-of-Famer. Verlander, who threw 5.1 impressive innings, allowing just two runs on five hits, walked one and struck out six, including a highlighted wipeout slider and a 95-mph fastball. In an emotional scene after exiting in the sixth inning, the Tigers secured a dramatic 4-3 win thanks to a walk-off homer by rookie Eduardo Valencia, saving Verlander from a potential loss. Verlander finished his career with a 266-159 record before retiring. Tigers manager AJ Hinch praised Verlander's performance, stating he left the team with a lasting memory of why he was one of the best pitchers of all-time. With this win, the Tigers became the seventh team in the season to secure a walk-off victory, and Valencia became the first rookie to hit a walk-off homer while trailing since Lou Whitaker in July 1978.",
  "summary": "Sure, there have been better sendoffs. But the Tigers and Justin Verlander couldn't have asked for a whole lot more Saturday at Comerica Park.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": "https://urgent.news/ill/10078878.png",
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Justin Verlander’s final start for Tigers ends with major surprise",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/justin-verlanders-final-start-for-tigers-ends-with-major-surprise",
        "published": "2026-09-26T19:33:46.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Newsweek",
        "title": "Justin Verlander's Last Start: Tigers Pitcher Ends Career in Emotional Moment",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/justin-verlanders-last-start-tigers-pitcher-ends-career-in-emotional",
        "published": "2026-09-26T19:38:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Justin Verlander makes teary farewell to 21-year career as Tigers rally to beat Pirates 4-3",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/justin-verlander-makes-teary-farewell-to-21-year-career-as-tigers",
        "published": "2026-09-26T20:35:22.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}