The Detroit Tigers have introduced a new pitching strategy over the past 10 days, implementing a series-by-series approach of cycling relievers.
The Detroit Tigers are responsible for one of the worst bullpens among the 30 MLB teams over the past three months, ranking 24th with a 4.61 ERA since May 16.
Despite that, the Tigers found a creative way to maximize their weakness.
The Tigers have introduced a new pitching strategy over the past 10 days, implementing a series-by-series approach of cycling relievers to expand the bullpen beyond its eight active arms and maximize the roster in an effort to win every series.
They've rostered 11 relievers in the past 10 days.
"It's depth," manager A.J. Hinch said. "The depth and the quality of arms that we have, we literally can configure the bullpen in a lot of different ways and feel equally as comfortable. I don't know that every team can say that. We try to focus on strengths."
With this pitching strategy, the Tigers have won three series in a row — and they're well on their way to winning their current series against the Houston Astros.
As of Monday, Aug. 18, the Tigers have these eight relievers in the bullpen: right-handers Kyle Finnegan, Will Vest, Rafael Montero, Brenan Hanifee, Tommy Kahnle, Alex Lange and Troy Melton and left-hander Tyler Holton.
Only Finnegan and Vest can be trusted in high-leverage situations.
The bullpen lacks quality depth.
To address the weakness, the Tigers are matching relievers to opposing hitters in each series.
Right-hander Codi Heuer was used against the righty-heavy Los Angeles Angels, left-hander Bailey Horn against the lefty-heavy Minnesota Twins and right-handers Hanifee and Lange against the righty-heavy Astros. Additionally, right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long showed up for two innings against the Chicago White Sox to provide a fresh arm in a time of need.
"We have a lot of strengths in the bullpen," Hinch said, "and we're not even fully healthy yet."
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Hinch highlighted the matchup advantages when the Tigers called up Heuer, Horn, Hanifee and Lange, including his desire to "throw as many different right-handed pitchers" at the Astros' best right-handed hitters. He also spoke about "expanding this pitching staff" when adding Gipson-Long, whose one-day appearance helped the Tigers defeat the White Sox in the rubber match of the series.
Of the five relievers, Heuer, Gipson-Long and Horn were optioned to Triple-A Toledo almost immediately after their matchups. Left-hander Brant Hurter was also sent down for performance reasons, as he needs to throw more strikes.
"We've got more than just what the roster limits us to," said Holton, a mainstay in the Tigers' bullpen. "It's going to take more than just the active roster to get where you want to go. The best teams have a lot of guys who buy into it."
The relievers are all-in on doing whatever it takes to win. Many of them just want the chance to pitch in the big leagues.
"Being in this industry, you have a sense of what to expect, and all you can ask for is an opportunity," Holton said. "Guys are very willing and wanting to be on the team and help the team in any way they can. We have a lot of guys that are good, and they're used in different ways."
Catcher Jake Rogers praised the relievers for their adaptability. He has watched the new pitching strategy unfold, both on the field and off the field.
Rogers supports Hinch's matchups.
"I think A.J. does a really good job planning and thinking ahead with those matchups," Rogers said. "You have to give a shoutout to those bullpen arms for being put into anything. They do a really good job out there."
Looking ahead, the Tigers are preparing for three series in a row against teams with a surplus of left-handed hitters. Among 13 position players, the Kansas City Royals (Aug. 22-24, Aug. 29-31) have seven left-handed hitters and the Athletics (Aug. 25-27) have five left-handed hitters.
The Tigers need left-handed relievers to combat those lineups, but Holton is the only lefty reliever in the Tigers' bullpen, which means another roster move is coming.
Due to MLB rules, the Tigers can't recall Horn or Hurter — a pair of left-handed relievers — because pitchers must stay in the minor leagues for a minimum of 15 days after getting optioned.
One option is to promote left-hander Drew Sommers to join the bullpen for his MLB debut. The 25-year-old has a 2.57 ERA with 16 walks and 62 strikeouts across 56 innings in 41 games between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo, with left-handed hitters posting a .167 batting average against him. The Tigers acquired Sommers in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays in mid-February, sending right-handed reliever Mason Englert to the Rays.
"It's going to get better," Hinch said, hinting that the bullpen shuffle could be temporary. "We're going to get healthy with (Paul) Sewald and (Jose) Urquidy and (Alex) Cobb. Those guys are working to be a part of this, and we're going to use them."
The Tigers created pitching chaos in 2024 — the famous opener-bulk reliever strategy that carried the pitching staff to the postseason and beyond.
In 2025, the Tigers are leaning into reliever roulette — a creative way to expand the bullpen without actually adding pitchers beyond the roster limits.
"I do think it's a way for us to try to maximize the impact of a bullpen that's always evolving," Hinch said. "Given that the players understand it and they're working towards maximizing their strengths in the organization, it's built a ton of arms that we can use. That's a good thing."
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers addressing bullpen weakness with creative plan to win
Category: Baseball
