Justin Verlander took a significant step forward in his recovery this past Saturday, but the results served as a reminder that even future Hall of Famers need time to shake off the rust. The 43-year-old Tigers right-hander threw a two-inning simulated game at Kauffman Stadium before Detroit's matchup against the Kansas City Royals—his first live action since landing on the injured list with left hip inflammation in early April.

While Verlander came away encouraged by how his body responded, the outing itself was far from his vintage form. Facing prospects Hao-Yu Lee and Wenceel Pérez, Verlander threw 38 pitches and, notably, every single hitter put the ball in play. He generated just four swings and misses and failed to record a strikeout. Several balls were hit hard, including a Pérez fly ball that likely would have been a double and a Lee line drive to left-center that also looked destined for extra bases. Lee later added a sharp grounder up the middle that would have been a single in game action.

"I wasn't as sharp as I would like to be," Verlander admitted, via the Detroit Free Press. "Physically, it was another step in the right direction. Check the box and keep moving forward."

The Tigers are taking a patient approach with their three-time Cy Young winner. Saturday's simulated game was his first time facing hitters since March 30—his only official start of the 2026 season before the hip injury sidelined him. The team plans to send Verlander to Triple-A Toledo for at least one rehab assignment before considering activating him, and Saturday's outing made it clear there's still work to do.

The timing of Verlander's return is especially critical for a Tigers rotation already missing Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize, and others, while Framber Valdez serves a suspension. That's put added pressure on Verlander's recovery timeline, but the organization is focused on long-term progress over immediate results. For now, simply being back in a competitive environment is a win in itself.