Mets vs. Tigers Thursday MLB probable pitchers, odds, props: Justin Verlander returns to Detroit to make Mets regular-season debut, set at 6.5 strikeouts

The biggest headline around MLB on Thursday will be from the Mets' matinee at Comerica Park, where three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander will make his regular-season Mets debut in the series finale against his old Tigers club. Detroit selected the ace No. 2 overall in the 2004 Amateur Draft and Verlander became a star with the club, winning his first Cy Young as a Tiger. New York is a -190 favorite at Caesars Sportsbook and Verlander is set at over/under 6.5 strikeouts.

Verlander joined exclusive company by winning a third Cy Young Award last year with Houston, leading the American League in wins (18), ERA (1.75), WHIP (0.83), opponents' OPS (.497), opponents' batting average (.186) and hits per nine innings (5.97). His ERA was the lowest by an AL pitcher since Pedro Martinez (1.74) in 2000.  Verlander had missed the 2021 season due to Tommy John surgery and became the first pitcher to win a Cy Young Award after not pitching in the previous season.

Houston opted not to pursue the aging ace in free agency, leading Verlander to take a two-year, $87 million deal in free agency from the Mets to replace Jacob deGrom, who left for Texas. The signing reunited Verlander with former Tigers teammate Max Scherzer, himself a three-time Cy Young winner.

This spring in five starts, Verlander was 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 21 innings. Alas, on the eve of the regular season he was put on the injured list with a back injury. The 40-year-old allowed two hits over 4 2/3 scoreless innings in his first mound appearance in more than a month last Friday for the Mets' Double-A team. He struck out six and walked one for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, throwing 52 of 69 pitches for strikes. He's probably at around a 70-pitch limit Thursday. There's no outs prop available for him.

Verlander pitched for the Tigers from 2005-2017, winning the AL Rookie of the Year in 2006, and the Cy Young and AL MVP in 2011. A World Series ring eluded him before being traded to Houston, which won two titles with him. He also won two Cy Youngs there.

Verlander is the all-time leader in starts (189), wins (99), innings (1,263.2), strikeouts (1173) at Comerica Park and has over twice as many starts, innings and strikeouts as the next-closest pitcher at the venue. Verlander is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in two career starts as a visitor at Comerica Park and 2-2 with a 3.10 ERA in four career starts vs. Detroit overall.

"It's funny how baseball works," Verlander said Tuesday. "I wouldn't like to start the year on the IL at all, but baseball always tends to have some funny stories and connections. Here I am, my first start as a Met in Detroit."

Verlander had been the betting favorite for NL Cy Young before the injury and is now +3500 at DraftKings. Atlanta's Spencer Strider is the current +200 leader.