Photo of dejected Justin Verlander after Astros loss is bittersweet for Tigers fans

In the 13 years he was a Detroit Tiger, Justin Verlander saw five Octobers with the team that took him in the first round of the 2004 MLB Draft. The Tigers got so tantalizingly close to winning the World Series during two of those seasons (2006 and 2012), and then Detroit fans had to watch as Verlander won ALCS MVP and a ring with the Astros just a few months after he was traded in 2017. That season, Detroit finished dead last in the AL Central and 38 games back of Cleveland.

Apart from a brief stint with the Mets that didn't work out the way anyone wanted, Verlander has been an Astro. The 2024 season wasn't great for him or his team, and it does seem like he may be nearing the end of a legendary, Hall of Fame career. But his trade away from Detroit is still a sore subject for Tigers fans.

On Wednesday, with Verlander omitted from the Astros' Wild Card roster, he was in the dugout watching as Hunter Brown — a Michigan native who grew up rooting for the Tigers and idolizing Verlander (and even modeled his pitching style after him) — blanked Detroit through five innings.

Now, former Astros manager AJ Hinch is managing the Tigers and winning with them, and Verlander had sit idly by as his old team celebrated on the field following the Wild Card series sweep. Rough stuff. Even worse? ESPN's broadcast cut to Verlander in the dugout, and he looked absolutely demoralized.

Tigers legend Justin Verlander watched as Detroit eliminated Astros

The thing that makes this Tigers team so miraculous is that literally no other Tigers squad has done anything quite like this. When they've made the playoffs, they've done so decisively, and when they've had losing seasons, they've really had losing seasons. This run has been unique. Their playoff odds at the beginning of August were less than 1%, and now they're going to the ALDS.

Legend has it that Verlander didn't want to leave Detroit in 2017, even when the Tigers were mired in another losing season. He wanted to stick with this team and hold out hope for a Detroit run like we're seeing in 2024.

Verlander is heading back to free agency this year, and he's hinted at a potential reunion with Detroit in the last years of his career. He's no longer in his prime, but there's no question he'd be welcomed back with open arms. Maybe consider getting in on this action, JV. It's all uphill for the Tigers. And we definitely don't want you missing out on the future fun.