Detroit Tigers Bullpen: Now Playing “Reliever Roulette”

The Tigers’ bullpen picture is starting to feel less like a depth chart and more like a game show, spin the wheel, see which arm you get today. Just hours after giving him another shot, Detroit sent Codi Heuer back to Toledo in favor of Sawyer Gipson-Long, continuing the revolving door of second half roster moves.

Not every contestant has fared well. Carlos Hernández flamed out quickly after being claimed from Cleveland, Tommy Kahnle continues to battle inconsistency, and the club is still waiting for rehabbing arms like José Urquidy to re-enter the mix. The newest prize behind Door No. 3? Paul Sewald, acquired in a trade for cash considerations and expected to be ready for September, bringing veteran closing experience to a bullpen in need of stability.

With constant call-ups, DFA shuffles, and rehab assignments, manager A.J. Hinch’s relief corps looks more like a nightly audition than a set roster. The question is whether one of these contestants will claim the ultimate prize, a secure role come the playoffs.

Current Bullpen Contestants

(Because every night’s an audition)

• Kyle Finnegan: Has been effective so far in limited duty.

• Rafael Montero: Trade deadline addition still finding his footing.

• Tommy Kahnle: Veteran righty, but the struggles have been hard to ignore.

• Sawyer Gipson-Long : Latest call-up in the revolving door of arms.

• José Urquidy: On rehab in Lakeland, could join the competition soon.

• Paul Sewald: Waiver pickup with closer experience, expected in September.

• Matt Stil : Minor league signee hoping for a shot.

• Bailey Horn: Lefty with upside, looking to earn a role.

• RJ Petit: Just was promoted to Toledo after dominating in Erie for the last two seasons. Slider has been generating more swings and misses to pair with a fastball that goes up to 97-98.

• Drew Sommers:  Reliever with deceptive stuff aiming for an audition.

• Alex Lange: Former closer trying to reclaim his form.

• Brenan Hanifee: Set to come back on Friday.

• Keider Montero: Talented arm who may be better suited as a starter.

Eliminated Contestants:

• • Carlos Hernández: Claimed by Cleveland after brief Tigers stint.

  • PJ Poulin: DFA’d at the deadline, now with the Nationals. Was added to the 40-man, never saw anytime.

  • Luke Jackson: Outrighted to Toledo after being DFA’d. Elected free agency

  • Geoff Hartlieb: Back in Toledo after two innings

• Matt Gage: 13IP, 8H, 4BB 10K FIP of 2.26 with the Giants since he was picked up.

So based on the data on Baseball Savant, who would be the next likely candidate to get on the wheel? * indicates the pitcher is on the 40-man roster

What does the data say in a nutshell?

• Top Miss Bats: Alex Lange and Geoff Hartlieb are far ahead in generating swings and misses, both north of 39%. Hartlieb spent time with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barres aka the Yankees affiliate and two innings in Detroit, which did not fair well so he may not get another shot.

• Next Tier: Drew Sommers and Sawyer Gipson-Long are producing solid whiff rates above league average for relievers.

• In the Mix: Montero, Horn, and Petit aren’t missing as many bats, but could still earn a role if they limit hard contact or fill matchup roles.

• Realistic Candidates for High-Leverage: Based purely on swing-and-miss ability, Lange and Sommers look like the best bets. Gipson-Long could be used in long relief.

Landing on the right reliever

President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris has worked to patch together the bullpen without sacrificing any of the organization’s top five prospects. With a wave of injuries hitting pitchers on our Tigers Top 40 list, he’s been forced to get creative, turning to waiver claims, minor league signings, and low-cost trades to keep the relief corps afloat. The results have been a mixed bag.

Some arms have shown flashes of reliability, while others have struggled to find consistency. It’s a fair reflection of the challenge Harris faces: trying to stabilize the late innings in the middle of a season without tapping into his most valuable long-term assets. Fans are saying it’s prospect hoarding, since the window is closing.  For now, the Tigers’ bullpen remains an ongoing round of Reliever Roulette, and Harris is still spinning the wheel, hoping to land on a winner.