DETROIT -- Justin Verlander gave up four runs, all on solo homers, over six innings on Wednesday night in his second rehab start for Triple-A Toledo, this time at Fifth Third Field.
While the Tigers hosted the Twins at Comerica Park, Verlander’s latest rehab start came against the Twins’ top affiliate, the St. Paul Saints. The outing came just more than a week after his previous rehab start last Tuesday, when he tossed five scoreless innings on four hits with no walks and three strikeouts for the Mud Hens at Iowa. The Tigers opted for another rehab outing.
Result-wise, Wednesday was a step back. Verlander allowed home runs to Aaron Sabato leading off the second inning and Kyler Fedko in the third, both on sliders. He settled down for scoreless innings in the third and fourth, striking out a batter in each, before Matt Wallner and Gabriel Gonzalez hit back-to-back homers leading off the sixth.
Verlander threw 86 pitches, 53 for strikes. His fastball averaged 92.9 mph, down from last week, as his velocity faded late. He topped out at 95.5 mph, a half-tick harder than last week. The fastball accounted for four of his six swing-and-misses along with four of his nine called strikes.
Verlander’s slider was inconsistent, evidenced by the home runs, but also drew four called strikes. The Saints averaged 92 mph in exit velocity.
The Tigers have given no clear indication of what happens from here. If Wednesday was Verlander's last rehab start, he would be on track to return to Detroit's rotation in a familiar place: Houston, where he pitched seven seasons. The Tigers visit the Astros for a three-game series beginning Monday at Daikin Park, where Verlander hasn’t pitched since his final season with the Astros in 2024.
Detroit could also extend his rehab assignment. It's currently just more than a week into what would be a maximum of 30 days.
Tigers closer Kenley Jansen, on the injured list since May 28 with right groin tightness, also made a rehab appearance one inning after Verlander’s rehab start ended. Jansen retired his first two batters, including a strikeout of former Oriole David Bañuelos, before giving up a ground-ball single, a stolen base, a four-pitch walk, a wild pitch and a two-run single from Wallner.
Jansen finished with three runs allowed on two hits in two-thirds of an inning, with a walk and a strikeout. He threw 22 pitches, 12 for strikes, including three whiffs on nine swings.