Justin Verlander Makes Final Start on the 27th Korea Time… 3,554 Strikeouts, 8th All-Time

Justin Verlander takes the mound for his final start against Pittsburgh at Comerica Park on the 26th, local time. His career strikeouts total 3,554, 8th all-time, 4 ahead of 9th place.

Translated from Korean with AI assistance. Read the original. Sources and original publication dates are retained.

Three-Line Summary

Verlander makes his 557th and final career start against Pittsburgh at Comerica Park on the 26th, local time.
His career strikeouts total 3,554, 8th in MLB history, 4 more than No. 9 Max Scherzer.
His 2026 contract is for 1 year and $13 million, of which $11 million is paid in installments through 2039.

"It felt like I kept plugging holes in a boat." That is what Justin Verlander said on July 8 (local time) when he announced he would retire when the season ends. The Detroit News reported that he explained his reason for retiring with this metaphor. At 43, he will throw his last pitch in Detroit, where he debuted in 2005.

Verlander's Final Start: Sept. 26 vs. Pittsburgh at Comerica Park

According to Sportsnet, Detroit announced that it will send Verlander to start against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park on the 26th, local time. It marks his 557th career start. The start time is reported inconsistently: the Detroit Free Press says 1:10 p.m. Eastern (2:10 a.m. on the 27th Korea time), while For The Win says 1:15.

According to the Detroit Free Press, on the 20th the manager said he was preparing for the Saturday start against Pittsburgh. Athlon Sports reported on the 22nd that the schedule was set after Verlander finished a bullpen session on Tuesday.

Verlander's 3,554 Strikeouts Rank 8th All-Time; 266 Wins, 3 Cy Young Awards

Rank	Player	Strikeouts	Difference from Verlander
6	Tom Seaver	3,640	+86
7	Don Sutton	3,574	+20
8	Justin Verlander	3,554	—
9	Max Scherzer	3,550	−4
10	Gaylord Perry	3,534	−20

MLB career strikeouts, ranks 6–10 (as of 18:00 on 2026.09.24). Source: MLB official stats table, as viewed. Differences are calculated relative to Verlander's total.

In the MLB official stats table (as of 18:00 on 2026.09.24), Verlander's strikeouts stand at 3,554, 8th all-time. He is 20 behind No. 7 Sutton, so he would need 21 strikeouts in his final game alone to pass him. Scherzer, 4 behind him, is a former Detroit teammate from 2010–2014, and the ranking could change depending on the results of his remaining starts in Toronto.

His career win total, as reported by CBS Sports on Sept. 22, is 266 wins, a figure from before his final start. His all-time rank is inconsistent: 37th in the July 8 MLB article, but tied for 36th in the official stats table viewed on Sept. 24. The reason for the difference has not been confirmed, so the rank is not stated definitively.

2011 was his year. He won the Cy Young Award and the American League MVP together and also captured the pitching Triple Crown. In Houston he added Cy Youngs in 2019 and 2022, making 3. By MLB's count he is tied for 5th, behind Clemens (7), Johnson (5), and Maddux and Carlton (4 each). He also won 2 World Series titles (2017, 2022) during his Houston years.

Verlander's $13 Million Salary, Returning to His Old Team After 9 Years

According to Forbes, Verlander signed with Detroit for 1 year and $13 million. According to AP and ESPN reports, of that, $11 million is paid out at $1.1 million each June 30 from 2030 to 2039. About 85% of the total (11 million ÷ 13 million) is deferred. On the day he receives the last payment, he will be 56.

He signed a 7-year, $180 million extension with Detroit in 2013 (per Wikipedia's summary) and left for Houston in 2017. In 2025 he earned $15 million for 1 year in San Francisco (AP report). This year's contract is $2 million less than that. In the 2026 season he put on his debut team's uniform again for the first time in 9 years.

Some things are still unconfirmed. We have not yet been able to directly verify the original team announcement of the starter or MLB's official game start time. The 266 wins and 3,554 strikeouts are also figures from before the final game. Verlander's final retirement stats will be confirmed only after they are tallied again once the game on the 26th ends.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. When is Verlander's final start in Korea time?

It is the game against Pittsburgh at Comerica Park on Sept. 26 local time, which falls in the early hours of the 27th in Korea time. The Detroit Free Press reports 2:10 a.m. and For The Win reports 2:15 a.m. (1:15 p.m. Eastern), so the official time needs to be rechecked.

Q. Where does Verlander rank in career strikeouts?

He has 3,554 in the MLB official stats table (as of 18:00 on 2026.09.24), 8th all-time. He is 20 behind No. 7 Don Sutton and 4 ahead of No. 9 Max Scherzer.

Q. What are Verlander's major awards?

3 Cy Young Awards (2011, 2019, 2022), the 2011 American League MVP, and 2 World Series titles (2017, 2022). He also has the 2006 Rookie of the Year award, 3 no-hitters, and 10 All-Star selections.

Related Official Sites

MLB Justin Verlander Official Player Stats — Check career stats updated after his final start
MLB Career Strikeouts Leaderboard — Check career strikeout rankings around Verlander
MLB Career Wins Leaderboard — Check where 266 wins ranks all-time
Detroit Tigers Official Schedule — Check the official start time for the Pittsburgh game

Featured image · Archive photo · Not a photo of the current game in the article · Photo: Wikimedia Commons (Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA), CC BY-SA 2.0