Detroit finished 76-86 despite the American League's fourth-best run differential, undone by a 6-22 May that was the majors' worst single-month record this season and a rash of injuries that put 36 of 40 roster players on the IL at some point.

McGonigle finished his rookie year with 6.9 bWAR, the 9th-highest mark for a rookie position player since 1901, capping it with a home run in the season finale.

Justin Verlander struck out six in his final MLB pitching appearance Saturday, and Eduardo Valencia's walk-off homer moments after his exit sent Detroit to a win in his last start.

The Tigers held a pregame farewell ceremony before Verlander's Saturday start, with fan giveaways both days of the weekend. Verlander thanked Jim Leyland, manager A.J. Hinch, Al Kaline and his family in emotional remarks.

Fans reflected on Verlander's Rookie of the Year, multiple Cy Youngs and MVP award, with several describing generational attachment to his 19-year career as he closes it out in Detroit.

Dingler was batting .278 with an .877 OPS, 26 home runs and 78 RBIs through Aug. 6 before an extended slump that has him at .144 with a .395 OPS since, including a 29-day homerless drought. Manager AJ Hinch said the question is "what can we do better" and whether there are signals Dingler is "banged up." "Sometimes you're really hot. Sometimes you're really cold. It's a weird game," Dingler said.

Benetti (TV, with the club since 2024) and Dickerson (radio, with the club since 2000) both signed multi-year extensions; financial terms were not disclosed.

Verlander, who had not pitched since March 30, enters the finale leading career rival Max Scherzer 3,554-to-3,550 in career strikeouts. "If I can make it to one hundred pitches, I'm going to do it," Verlander said.

Justin Verlander, who hasn't pitched since March 30 because of injury, is slated to make his final career start Saturday at Comerica Park — a farewell subplot to his rivalry with Max Scherzer as the two enter the Hall of Fame together.

Dingler hit .278 with an .877 OPS and 26 homers through Aug. 6 but has since fallen to .144/.395 OPS. Manager AJ Hinch questioned whether fatigue is behind the drop-off: "What can we do better?"

Detroit signed both its TV play-by-play voice (Jason Benetti) and its radio voice since 2000 (Dan Dickerson) to multi-year extensions, ending any booth uncertainty heading into 2027.

Washington's Yohandy Morales hit a two-run homer to key a 4-2 win over Detroit in the series finale. Ben Malgeri homered and added an RBI single for the Tigers in the loss.

Catcher Zyhir Hope hit .348 with four home runs over his final 17 games at Double-A Erie, while Low-A Lakeland's Cris Rodriguez posted a .344 average over his last eight games as Detroit's farm system wrapped up the year.

The Tigers and Fifth Third Bank announced Monday that Comerica Park will be renamed Fifth Third Park, tied to Fifth Third's 2026 merger with Comerica Bank. The ballpark opened in 2000; signage updates roll out in the offseason ahead of full marquee changes for 2027. The existing naming-rights deal, signed in 1998 and extended in 2018, runs through 2034 and is unaffected by the rename.

Detroit, playing out a lost season at 74-83, trailed Washington 3-1 through the 8th inning behind two home runs from CJ Abrams off starter Drew Anderson. Max Clark made two highlight-reel catches in center field for Detroit.