Spotlight Why Justin Verlander is worried about MLB after he retires BOB NIGHTENGALE USA Today Jul 15, 2026 Jul 15, 2026 0 × USA Today - Vertical Justin Verlander reveals pitch grips and strategy ahead of his final All Star Game appearance. Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save PHILADELPHIA — Justin Verlander smirked.kAmw6 =2F8965]k^AmkAm%96?[ 96 D?66C65]k^AmkAm'6C=2?56C H2D 2=>@DE :? FEE6C 5:D36=:67 E92E D@>6@?6 4@F=5 D6C:@FD=J 2D< 9:> E96 BF6DE:@?]k^AmkAm“yFDE:?[ 92G6 J@F 6G6C 366? AF==65 @FE @7 2 A6C764E 82>6 @C ?@\9:EE6C :? J@FC 42C66CnQk^AmkAmpC6 J@F <:55:?8nk^Am kAm“}@[’’ 96 D2:5] “xE H2D ?6G6C 6G6? 2 4@?G6CD2E:@?] }@PQk^Am People are also reading… Joint law enforcement operation in McDowell County results in 56 charges McDowell County woman accused of stabbing sleeping man with pocketknife Camping World property in Marion sold to Christian mission organization Man pleads guilty of distributing 156 pounds of meth in Burke, McDowell counties Owner of critical unpreserved acre along Blue Ridge Parkway in NC agrees to sell After 30 years at Baxter, McDowell Tech student is building her next career How a Marine veteran bought a new home without paying a dollar in upfront closing costs Town of Old Fort buys property for new town hall, purchase paid for with FEMA funds Marion bookstore expanding, selling vinyl records and more used books USA World Cup winners and losers: Unforgettable summer ends on sour note State Health Plan brings back Blue Cross NC, approves Novant and UNC Health deals 90 mph tornado touched down in Catawba, Cleveland, Lincoln counties; toppled camper, trees North Carolina expands driver's license renewals, ends seven-year plate replacement 2 NC cities rank among worst in the US for bed bugs, Orkin says. Here’s where NC has changed teacher licensure laws. How it could impact your child’s school kAmw@H 4@F=5 D@>6@?6 2D<nQk^AmkAm%9:D :D 2 >2? H9@ 92D A:E4965 7@C aa J62CD[ H@? E9C66 rJ *@F?8 2H2C5D[ EH@ (@C=5 $6C:6D 492>A:@?D9:AD[ 2? |'! 2H2C5[ 366? D6=64E65 E@ `_ p==\$E2C E62>D[ 2?5 H:== 92G6 9:D A=2BF6 >@F?E65 :? r@@A6CDE@H? :? D:I J62CD]k^AmkAms@ J@F 24EF2==J 36=:6G6 96 H@F=5 2==@H 2 >2?286C E@ AF== 9:> @FE @7 2 82>6 H96? 96 92D E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ >2<6 9:DE@CJnk^Am kAm“xEVD G6CJ 92C5[Q '6C=2?56C D2:5 :? 5:D8FDE[ “7@C >6 E@ H2E49]Qk^Am kAm%96C6 H2D ?@E 2 D:?8=6 A:E496C H9@ 6G6C 925 2 A6C764E 82>6 E9C@F89 D:I :??:?8D H9@ H2D 6G6C AF==65 7C@> 2 82>6 7C@> `h_`\a_`d]k^Am kAmx? E96 =2DE `_ J62CD[ :E @44FCC65 E9C66 E:>6D]k^AmkAmxE 92AA6?65 EH:46 :? 7@FC 52JD =2DE H66<]k^AmkAm'6C=2?56C 42?’E 4@>AC696?5 :E[ 3FE E96? 282:?[ 96 92D 5:77:4F=EJ F?56CDE2?5:?8 9@H A6@A=6 24EF2==J 36=:6G6 H:?D 2C6 @G6CC2E65 7@C DE2CE:?8 A:E496CD[ <?@H:?8 E96 :>A24E @7 :?5:G:5F2= G:4E@C:6D]k^Am kAm‘‘x <?@H E92E H:?D :D 2 DE2E E92E A6@A=6 <:?5 @7 2C6 A@@\A@@:?8 ?@H[’’ '6C=2?56C D2JD[ “3FE J@F =@@< 2C@F?5] $E2CE:?8 A:E496CD 567:?:E6=J 5@?VE 8@ 2D 566A :? E96 82>6] %96J 5@?VE E9C@H 2D >2?J A:E496D] p?5 3642FD6 @7 E92E[ H:?D 2C6 4@>:?8 H2J 5@H?]k^Am kAm“x E9:?< >2J36 @? 2 8:G6? J62C @C 2 8:G6? 52J[ E96 H:? :D?VE 2 8C62E DE2E] qFE @G6C E:>6[ :7 J@F 4@?D:DE6?E=J H:? 32D632== 82>6D[ J@FVC6 5@:?8 2== @7 E96 E9:?8D E92E J@F H2?E 2D 2 DE2CE:?8 A:E496C] *@FVC6 8@:?8 566A] *@FVC6 =:>:E:?8 CF?D] *@FVC6 8:G:?8 J@FC E62> 2 492?46] p?5 :7 E96J DE2CE H:??:?8 >@C6 @7E6? E92? ?@E[ E96? J@FVC6 5@:?8 2 8@@5 ;@3]k^Am kAm“$@ >2J36 D9@CE E6C>[ x 86E :E[ 3FE >24C@ G:6H[ x E9:?< H:?D E6== J@F 2 >F49 =2C86C A:4EFC6]’’k^Am Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander in the dugout during the fourth inning between the Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday in Detroit. Junfu Han, USA Today Network kAm'6C=2?56C[ H9@ H@? 2E =62DE `d 82>6D :? `a D62D@?D[ A:E49:?8 >@C6 E92? a__ :??:?8D `a E:>6D[ 325=J H2?E65 E@ H:? b__ 82>6D 367@C6 96 C6E:C65] w6 <?6H 96 4@F=5 36 E96 =2DE b__\82>6 H:??6C :? 32D632== 9:DE@CJ] }@H[ 6G6? H:E9 aee G:4E@C:6D[ 96 H@?56CD :7 2?J@?6 H:== 6G6C H:? ad_ 282:?]k^Am kAmw6’== 72== D9@CE @7 c[___ DEC:<6@FED[ 3FE H:E9 b[ddc[ :E’D DE:== E96 6:89E9\>@DE 2==\E:>6[ H:E9 @?=J EH@ 4FCC6?E A:E496CD H:E9:? `[___ DEC:<6@FED @7 9:>]k^Am kAm'6C=2?56C[ cb[ E96 @=56DE 2E9=6E6 :? }@CE9 p>6C:42? E62> DA@CED[ 5@6D?’E H2?E E@ D@F?5 =:<6 96’D q@3 u6==6C[ 2?5 E92E E96 82>6 DE:?<D 4@>A2C65 E@ 9@H :E H2D H96? 96 3C@<6 :? @? yF=J c[ a__d[ 3FE >2?[ 2C6 E:>6D 5:776C6?E]k^AmkAmw6 H@CC:6D 23@FE E96 82>6[ E@@[ A2CE:4F=2C=J H:E9 E96 A@E6?E:2= @7 2 =6?8E9J =@4<@FE @? E96 9@C:K@? E9C62E6?:?8 E96 :?E68C:EJ @7 E96 a_af D62D@?]k^AmkAm“~3G:@FD=J[ x H2?E E96 A=2J6CD E@ 86E H92E E96JVC6 56D6CG65[Q '6C=2?56C D2JD[ “3FE x E9:?< J@F H2?E E96 82>6 E@ ;FDE 36 :? 2 8C62E A=246] %92EVD :E]k^Am kAm“qFE xV> C62==J H@CC:65 23@FE :E[ E@ 36 7C2?<[ 3642FD6 E96 82>6 :D[ :? >J @A:?:@?[ :? 2 C62==J 8C62E A=246] xED G:6H6CD9:A :D 5@:?8 8C62E] %96 72? 32D6D 2C6 C6DA@?5:?8] … &=E:>2E6=J[ E96 82>6VD :? 2 8@@5 A=246[ 2?5 x H@F=5 92E6 E@ D66 E92E 86E 5:DCFAE65 2?5 =@D6 >@>6?EF> E92E H6 92G6[ 2?5 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E92E H6 92G6 E@ 4@?E:?F6 E@ 8C@H E96 DA@CE]k^AmkAm“%96C6 2C6 D@ >2?J C62D@?D H9J x E9:?< 2 C62= H@C< DE@AA286 :? =@D:?8 82>6D H@F=5 36 56EC:>6?E2=]Qk^AmkAm$:>A=J[ :7 E96 DJDE6> 2:?’E 3C@<6[ '6C=2?56C 4=2:>D[ H9J 7:I :Enk^Am kAm“%9:D 4FCC6?E DJDE6> >FDE 36 H@C<:?8 ~z :7 E96 82>6 :D 2D A@AF=2C 2?5 C:D:?8 2D :E :D[ C:89EnQ '6C=2?56C D2JD] “x 5@?VE D66 2?J D9@CE286 @7 A6@A=6 H2?E:?8 E@ 3FJ 2 |{q E62>[ D@ :E >FDE 36 2 5646?E :?G6DE>6?E[ C:89En *@F <?@H[ A6@A=6 2C6 7:89E:?8 7@C E96 492?46 E@ 3FJ 2? |{q E62>[ D@ :E 42?VE 36 E92E 325]Qk^Am kAm%96? 282:?[ '6C=2?56C D2JD[ ?@E9:?8 :D =:<6 :E FD65 E@ 36 FA@? 9:D 2CC:G2=] (96? 96 42>6 FA 2?5 >256 9:D 7:CDE p==\$E2C v2>6 2E 286 ac[ 96 H2D E@@ D42C65 E@ D2J 2 A66A :? E96 p>6C:42? {628F6 4=F39@FD6[ :?E:>:52E65 3J E96 D:89E @7 s6C6< y6E6C[ x49:C@ $FKF<:[ s2G:5 ~CE:K 2?5 p=6I #@5C:8F6K[ 2?5 ?@E H@CCJ:?8 23@FE 9:D 3C2?5 @C D:==J D@4:2= >65:2 244@F?ED]k^Am kAmtG6? E@52J[ 96 A@=:E6=J 564=:?6D E@ E2=< 23@FE 9:D 7FEFC6 6?EC2?46 :?E@ E96 w2== @7 u2>6[ @C H92E 42A 96’5 H62C @? 9:D A=2BF6]k^AmkAm(96? 96 42>6 FA 2?5 56G6=@A65 :?E@ @?6 @7 E96 >@DE 5@>:?2?E C:89E\92?565 A:E496CD :? E96 =2DE d_ J62CD[ 96 ?6G6C 7@C8@E E@ AC2:D6 }@=2? #J2? 7@C 36:?8 9:D 2==\E:>6 :5@= 2?5 E96 :>A24E z6??J #@86CD >256 @? 9:D 42C66C[ 6G6? C64@>>6?5:?8 E96 AFC492D6 @7 2 56D:8?6C 365 E@ C65F46 9:D 324< H@6D]k^Am kAm“w6 ;FDE E2F89E >6 9@H E@ 36 2 AC@76DD:@?2=[Q '6C=2?56C D2:5] “w6’5 366? :? E96 82>6 D@ =@?8[ 2?5 x ;FDE 2=H2JD 25>:C65 E96 @=56C A=2J6CD] (96?6G6C x 925 2 492?46 E@ DA62< E@ E96>[ p==\$E2C 82>6D @C H92E6G6C[ ECJ:?8 E@ 23D@C3 :?7@C>2E:@?[ x H@F=5 5@ :E]Qk^Am kAm(6==[ 96C6 H6 2C6 a_ J62CD =2E6C[ 2?5 '6C=2?56C :D E92E >2?]k^AmkAm'6C=2?56C 2??@F?465 =2DE H66< E92E 96 H@F=5 C6E:C6 27E6C E96 D62D@?[ 2?5 D:?46 E96 564:D:@? 3642>6 @77:4:2=[ '6C=2?56C 92D 6G6CJ@?6 7C@> qCJ46 w2CA6C 2?5 |:<6 %C@FE C6BF6DE:?8 2FE@8C2A965 ;6CD6JD 2?5 32==D[ H:E9 @E96CD D66<:?8 25G:46]k^AmkAm“{@@<:?8 7@CH2C5 E@ E2=<:?8 E@ 9:> E96D6 ?6IE 76H 52JD[Q %C@FE D2:5] “w6’D @?6 @7 E96 E@F896DE A:E496CD x 6G6C 72465] x H2D >6DD:?8 H:E9 9:> E96 @E96C 52J H96? 96 D2:5 96’D C6E:C:?8]k^Am kAm“x D2:5[ VqC@[ J@F E9C6H >6 2 D=:56C[ 2?5 x 9:E :E :? @FC 3F==A6?] p?5 E96 ?6IE cg @C d_ 2E\32ED[ x 5:5?’E D66 @?6 D=:56C] p?5 :7 96 5:5[ 96 3@F?465 :E]k^AmkAm“w6’D ;FDE 2 4@>A6E:E@C[ @?6 @7 E96 E@F896DE x’G6 6G6C 72465] w6’D 8@:?8 @FE DEC@?8]’’k^AmkAm%9:D :D H9J '6C=2?56C[ H9@ 92D >256 ;FDE @?6 DE2CE E9:D D62D@?[ 56DA6C2E6=J H2?ED E@ A:E49 282:? E9:D J62C] w6 H2?ED E@ DE6A @? E92E r@>6C:42 !2C< >@F?5 2E =62DE @?6 >@C6 E:>6] w6 DE:== 5C62>D @7 36:?8 @? E96 >@F?5 :? ~4E@36C[ 96=A:?8 E96 %:86CD H:? E96:C 7:CDE (@C=5 $6C:6D D:?46 `hgc]k^Am kAm“{@@<[ :E’D ?@E =:<6 xV> D:EE:?8 96C6 D2J:?8 =:<6 E9:D :D 8@:?8 E@ 36 :E 7@C E96 D62D@?[Q '6C=2?56C 4@?7:56?E=J D2JD] “x H9@=6962CE65=J 36=:6G6 E92E x 42? 4@>6 324< 2?5 A:E49[ 2?5 9@A67F==J A:E49 H6== @? 2 E62> E92E 92D 2 492?46 E@ 36 :? E96 A=2J@77D] $@[ :EVD D@>6E9:?8 xV> DE:== H@C<:?8 52:=J 2E]k^Am kAm“x E9:?< E96 82>6 92D 492?865 2 =@E[Q '6C=2?56C D2JD] “(96? x 7:CDE 42>6 :?[ x E9:?< E96 2G6C286 =6?8E9 @7 82>6 H2D?VE =@?8 6?@F89 E92E E96 A:E49 4=@4< H2D 2? :DDF6] qFE x D2H :E 6G@=G6 :?E@ 82>6D E92E H6C6 E2<:?8 C@FE:?6=J E9C66 9@FCD[ c_ >:?FE6D[ 2?5 E96 A:E49 4=@4< 92D C6D@=G65 E92E] %92EVD 366? 2 8C62E 255:E:@?]k^Am kAm“x 8@E 28@?:K:?8=J 4=@D6 E96C6] x >256 >J =:<6 7:?2= C6923 DE2CE[ 2?5 E96? 925 >J 92>DEC:?8 A@A @? >6] *@F <?@H[ :EVD ;FDE =:<6 C62==J 7CFDEC2E:?8] xV> ECJ:?8 E@ 5@ 6G6CJE9:?8 x 42? 2?5 E2<6 E96 3:8 A:4EFC6]’’k^AmkAmw6 C62==J 5:5?’E H2?E E@ C6E:C6[ 9@A:?8 E@ A:E49 F?E:= 96’D ce 2?5 96 925 E9@D6 b__ H:?D[ 3FE 9:D 3@5J D:>A=J H@F=5?’E 4@@A6C2E6] xE H2D 9:D 9:A E92E AFE 9:> @? E96 x{] %96?[ 9:D 92>DEC:?8]k^Am kAm“*@F <?@H[ x 766= =:<6 xVG6 366? =:<6 A=F88:?8 9@=6D :? 2 =62<J 3@2E[Q '6C=2?56C D2JD] “x E9:?< E96 @?6 E9:?8 xVG6 5@?6 C62==J H6== :? >J 42C66C :D 36 @3;64E:G6 23@FE >JD6=7[ 2?5 E92EVD 2==@H65 >6 E@ 252AE H96? x ?665 E@ 2?5 36 DF446DD7F= @? E96 >@F?5] x <?@H H92E x ?665 E@ 5@ >6492?:42==J E@ 36 962=E9J 2?5 4@>A6E6 2E E9:D =6G6=[ 3FE >J 3@5JVD ?@E =6EE:?8 >6 5@ E92E]’’k^Am kAmw6 2=D@ 36=:6G6D E9:D >:89E 36 E96 :562= E:>6 E@ =62G6[ H:E9 E96 4@==64E:G6 32C82:?:?8 28C66>6?E 6IA:C:?8 s64] `]k^AmkAm“}@3@5J <?@HD H92EVD 8@:?8 E@ 92AA6? 2E E96 368:??:?8 @7 ?6IE D62D@?[’’ '6C=2?56C D2JD] “%96C6VD 2 =@E @7 4@?G6CD2E:@? 23@FE E92E] x ;FDE 766= =:<6 :EVD E96 C:89E E:>6] p?5 :7 x H2?E E@ 4@?EC@= >J @H? 56DE:?J[ H9:49 x 5@[ x 5@?VE H2?E E@ =62G6 2 82>6 H96? xV> C625J E@ 8@ 2?5 ?@E 92G6 E96 82>6 7@C46 >6 @FE]’’k^Am kAm}@H E92E 96’D 366? D:56=:?65 D:?46 E96 7:CDE H66< @7 E96 D62D@?[ D6=64E65 E@ E96 p==\$E2C v2>6 3J r@>>:DD:@?6C #@3 |2?7C65 2D @?6 @7 9:D =686?5 A:4<D[ :E 92D 2==@H65 9:> E:>6 E@ C67=64E[ <?@H:?8 E96 6?5 @7 2 723F=@FD 42C66C 2?5 8=@C:@FD 6C2 :D 6?5:?8]k^Am kAm“x E9:?< E96 25G6?E @7 2?2=JE:4D 92D A@D:E:G6D 2?5 ?682E:G6D] x 92G6 567:?:E6=J 36?67:E65 7C@> :E[ 3FE :E 42? 364@>6 2 4CFE49 7@C A6@A=6 2?5 @C82?:K2E:@?D] ]]] %92E’D >256 2 5C2>2E:4 5:776C6?46 :? E96 82>6]Qk^AmkAmp?5 ?@H[ 96C6 96 :D[ H@?56C:?8 H96C6 E:>6 92D 8@?6[ H9:=6 <?@H:?8 9:D E:>6 :D ?62C]k^AmkAm“*@F <?@H[ :EVD DF49 2 3=FC H9:=6 J@FVC6 :? :E[’’ '6C=2?56C D2JD[ “2?5 E96? J@F <?@H J@F 86E E@H2C5D E96 6?5 2?5 D2J[ “|2?[ x H:D9 x 925 6?;@J65 )[ *[ 2?5 + 2 =:EE=6 3:E >@C6] $@[ E@ 92G6 E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ 4@>6 324< :? E9:D D:EF2E:@? 2?5 C62==J 23D@C3 :E 2?5 <?@H :EVD J@FC =2DE E:>6[ :EVD 2 C62==J DA64:2= 766=:?8]k^Am kAm“x E9:?< :EVD 4@@= 7@C E96 82>6] $66:?8 D@>6 @7 E96 8C62ED E92E x A=2J65 282:?DE 2?5 25>:C6 7@C 2 =@?8 E:>6] yFDE 86E E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ @? 2 ?2E:@?2= DE286 E@ 36 D6?E @77 2?5 36 :?G@=G65 :? E96 82>6 282:? :? 2 3:8 H2J :D 2 4@@= E9:?8 E96 4@>>:DD:@?6C 5:5]’’k^AmkAm}@H[ 7@C A6C92AD E96 7:?2= E:>6 @? E96 ?2E:@?2= DE286[ '6C=2?56C 92D 2 492?46 E@ D2J 8@@5\3J6[ A6C92AD 6G6? 86EE:?8 2? @G2E:@? E@ C6>6>36C %F6D52J ?:89E 7C@> E96 D6==@FE 4C@H5 2E r:E:K6?D q2?< !2C<] w6 A:E4965 :? E96 p>6C:42? {628F6 2== 3FE EH@ D62D@?D 3FE 32D632== 72?D <?@H 96 A=2J65 E96 C:89E H2J[ 2=H2JD C6DA64E:?8 E96 82>6[ H:E9 E96 82>6 C6DA64E:?8 9:> C:89E 324<]k^Am kAm“xEVD 92C5 7@C >6 E@ =@@< 324< :? 9:?5D:89E 2?5 492?86 2?JE9:?8[Q '6C=2?56C D2JD] “x 9@?6DE=J 36=:6G6 E92E] x >256 D@>6 >:DE2<6D 7@C DFC6[ 3FE E92E C62==J :D H92E =65 >6 E@ 36:?8 H96C6 x 2> E@52J[ 2?5 x 5@?VE C68C6E E9@D6 E9:?8D]k^Am kAm“x E9:?< x 5:5 2 =@E @7 E9:?8D C:89E]Qk^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get in the game with our Prep Sports Newsletter Sent weekly directly to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Justin Verlander shares pitching secrets before final All Star Game Justin Verlander reveals pitch grips and strategy ahead of his final All Star Game appearance. Recommended for you Watch Now: Related Video LeBron James - 'Warriors? Philly? Miami? Yankees?' as the four-time champion teases his NBA future. Dabo Swinney: Clemson has history of success, even if 'we stunk' in 2025 Dabo Swinney: Clemson has history of success, even if 'we stunk' in 2025 NHL Teams with the LONGEST Stanley Cup Droughts Updated NHL Teams with the LONGEST Stanley Cup Droughts Updated Dabo Swinney talks college football's tampering problem, what consequences should be Dabo Swinney talks college football's tampering problem, what consequences should be
Justin Verlander shares pitching secrets before final All Star Game Justin Verlander reveals pitch grips and strategy ahead of his final All Star Game appearance.
