New Delhi, Sept. 27 -- Justin Verlander made the 557th and final start of his career Saturday at Comerica Park, working 5.1 innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates before leaving to a standing ovation and chants of "JV, JV, JV."

It was his first appearance in a Detroit Tigers uniform at home since August 20, 2017. Hip and hamstring injuries had kept him off a major-league mound since March 30. He skipped parts of his rehab to get here and was not stretched out for a normal start. He still threw 91 pitches, struck out six and allowed only two solo home runs. He walked off after a long hug with his daughter, Genevieve Verlander.

A night earlier, during the Detroit Tigers' retirement ceremony, seven-year-old Genevieve Verlander threw out th...