HOUSTON Justin Verlander is ready to return.The Detroit Tigers will activate Verlander from the injured list on Father's Day, starting him Sunday, June 21, against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park. The 43-year-old has been sidelined since April 1 with left hip inflammation.Verlander hasn't pitched for the Tigers at Comerica Park since Aug. 20, 2017."It's time to challenge him even more with a game," manager A.J. Hinch said before Tuesday's game against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. "The energy that comes with that start will be good for him, and I think it will be good for us. He'll prepare for Sunday's start and be ready to go."WELCOME BACK? Framber Valdez wanted to stay with Astros. They never calledVerlander hasn't pitched for the Tigers since March 30, when he surrendered five runs across 3 innings on 80 pitches to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.It was his only start of the 2026 season.When he starts Sunday, he will have spent 81 days on the injured list before returning.Verlander signed a one-year, $13 million contract in February 2026, rejoining the Tigers after his first stint from 2005-17. The Tigers traded Verlander to the Astros for three prospects in August 2017.This story will be updated.Contact Evan Petzold atepetzold@freepress.comor follow him@EvanPetzold.This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Justin Verlander starts Sunday at Comerica Park