DETROIT -- Justin Verlander rarely breaks from his regimented pregame routine.
So when he paused in the outfield to watch a tribute video on the Comerica Park scoreboard and then acknowledged the cheering fans, everybody noticed.
"It matters to him that he played here. I know it matters to him," said Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch. "He wanted to make sure that the people around here understood that he appreciated the love that they were giving him."
Verlander was visibly emotional as the video came to an end. He said the most poignant part of the montage featured late Tigers owner Michael Ilitch.