Big news out of Detroit: Justin Verlander has officially been moved to the 60-day injured list. For Tigers fans, this means the earliest we'll see the future Hall of Famer back on the mound is May 31.

The 43-year-old right-hander was originally placed on the 15-day IL back on April 4 (retroactive to April 1) with left hip inflammation. This latest transfer extends his timeline significantly, but it also sets a clear target date for his return.

Verlander's 2025 season got off to a rocky start. In his only outing so far—a March 30 start against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field—he lasted just 3⅔ innings, giving up five runs on six hits and two walks while throwing 80 pitches. It wasn't the vintage Verlander performance we've come to expect from the three-time Cy Young winner.

On the bright side, he's making progress. Verlander recently completed a 38-pitch live batting practice session, though he'll need to face hitters again in a controlled setting within the next week. After that, a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo is on the horizon before he can rejoin the big-league club.

The roster move also opened up a spot for infielder Gage Workman, who was added to the 40-man roster on Sunday to replace outfielder Kerry Carpenter (who landed on the IL). Workman joined the 26-man roster just in time for the series finale against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

If all goes according to plan, Verlander's potential return date of May 31 would line up perfectly with a series finale against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. For a pitcher of his caliber, every game counts—and Tigers fans are hoping that when he does come back, he'll be closer to the ace who helped lead the Astros to a World Series title just a few years ago.