​When Justin Verlander entered the Detroit Tigers’ media room on Wednesday, July 8, to discuss his decision to retire, another starting pitcher came with him: Tarik Skubal, the Tigers’ ace and two-time defending American League Cy Young Award winner. Skubal walked to the back of the room and took a seat in front of a line of television cameras so he could listen as one of the greatest pitchers of the 21st century described the choice to bring his storied career to a close after the 2026 season.
“I think it is just important to respect the game,” Skubal said, a day after earning a win on the mound against the Athletics. “He’s been one of the game’s best pitchers. Ever. And I know that decision is tough for him, and you kind of want to support him and let him know that you have his back.” Verlander, a three-time AL Cy Young Award winner and the active leader in wins, strikeouts and innings pitched, opened up about how challenging 2026 has been. After re-signing with the Tigers on a one-year, $13 million deal, Verlander made only one start before landing on the injured list. As he neared a return, he was sidelined again with a different injury. “A two- or three-week thing turned into a couple of months, and just when I was about to get back, something else happens,” Verlander said. “I feel like I am plugging the holes in the boat.”
On May 28, 2026, at Comerica Park, Detroit Tigers pitchers Justin Verlander (left) and Tarik Skubal (right), both on the injured list, watched from the dugout during a game against the Los Angeles Angels. Skubal’s desire to support his teammate went beyond just words; he also wanted to study another moment of a career headed toward enshrinement in Cooperstown.
“There is a ton of knowledge to take away from how he speaks, what he says and how he goes about his business,” Skubal explained. “Just being there was all of those things kind of put together.” Skubal has used his newfound proximity as a teammate and neighbor in the clubhouse to absorb more about the game and the craft of pitching. The two often find themselves at opposite ends of a figurative chessboard in the clubhouse as conversations unfold.
“It’s always fun competing against him in that,” Skubal noted. “You can kind of see him start to lock in on that stuff. It has been fun to watch. He has been great for everybody in the clubhouse, including me.”
Injuries have forced Verlander to spend more time on his rehabilitation than with his peers, yet he remains committed to sharing knowledge whenever possible, with the aim of returning in some capacity and continuing to contribute. He still envisions himself pitching again, even as retirement draws nearer. The conversation in the Tigers’ media room that afternoon reflected not only a farewell to a remarkable era but also a passing of the torch as Skubal absorbed the lessons and approaches that have defined Verlander’s extraordinary career.