Detroit’s bullpen has been a storyline bigger than any offense or rotation storyline this season. Currently posting a bullpen ERA hovering around 3.90, the unit ranks 14th in MLB–respectable, but not the kind of elite-level performance typically seen from World Series winners. Considering teams that went all the way in recent history averaged bullpen ERAs near 3.61, Detroit’s unit has a good chance to lower its ERA as long as the bullpen remains consistent.
Post-Deadline acquisitions like Kyle Finnegan and Charlie Morton have helped tighten the ship, and the bullpen has slowly improved after a turbulent midseason stretch. The big question: can this group raise its ceiling when the pressure peaks in the playoffs?
Can This ‘Not-Bad’ Bullpen Carry a Deep Run?
Most pennant-winning teams have bullpens that rank top 10 in ERA. As the Tigers’ management has supplemented the pen with savvy trades–namely Finnegan, Morton, Paul Sewald, and Rafael Montero–depth has been quietly built with proven track records.
Beyond roster moves, the bullpen has earned some confidence through recent performance bumps. Relief ace Tommy Kahnle is trending well, and rookie closer Will Vest has been a consistent presence all season. Still, cracks persist: Fielding Independent Pitching (FIP) suggests caution, as Detroit ranked about average in August despite respectable surface metrics. That includes a concerning opponents’ BABIP and overall stability that may not hold up in October.
The Rotation’s Role in the October Picture
As much as the bullpen dominates discussion, Detroit’s starting rotation is the table-setter for any postseason run. The group has shown flashes of dominance, with frontline ace Tarik Skubal leading the charge. His strikeout ability and consistent command make him the tone-setter every series. Behind him, Casey Mize remains a solid No. 2, holding a 13-5 record this season, and Reese Olson is making his way back from a recent shoulder injury, hoping to take the mound during the postseason.
Veteran depth also matters. Jack Flaherty brings experience in high-stakes games. Chris Paddack has also been used as a swingman, offering versatility as either a back-end starter or long relief option when matchups demand flexibility. Limiting pitch counts and handing the game over to the bullpen with a lead will be critical, especially given recent bullpen injuries.
The challenge is consistency. As stated, injuries have thinned the depth at times, forcing Detroit to lean heavily on call-ups and midseason adjustments. If Skubal and Olson can carry momentum into October while Mize and Flaherty supply quality innings, it will ease the burden on a bullpen already strained by setbacks. In short, strong starts could be the difference between a bullpen exposed and a bullpen empowered.
“There are a lot of good arms in this clubhouse,” Paddack said. “The pitching chaos that I heard about last year, it’s a thing, and they had success doing it, and if that means we run it back to go deeper in the playoffs this year, that’s what A.J. is going to do. I’m here to contribute, whatever role that might look like.”
The Relief Arms Everyone’s Talking About
Vest has been the closer to watch–his snappy 2.66 ERA, consistent strikeout output (65), and lock-down ninth inning presence have made him a postseason anchor.
Kahnle, signed in the offseason, has brought veteran leadership. While without great Detroit-specific numbers, his track record in high-leverage roles shows potential.
Finnegan, Sewald, and Montero arrived via deadline moves designed for playoff readiness. Each brings a blend of experience and specialized skill to handle tight spots down the stretch. However, Sewald remains sidelined on the 60-day IL for, at least, a few more days, while Finnegan just landed on the injured list, leaving Detroit’s depth under pressure at a critical moment.
Tyler Holton remains the Swiss-army blade; equally capable in long relief or as a multi-inning bridge. His previous seasons showed control, versatility, and adaptability during “pitching chaos” setups.
Can the Tigers Bullpen Fuel a October Charge?
Right now, the bullpen is solid, but far from elite. If Detroit wants to repeat last year’s magic and make noise in October, this group must tighten further. The midseason additions help, but consistency under postseason pressure is another beast.
Manager A.J. Hinch’s strategic approach–mixing platoon leverage, smart base-running, and bullpen flexibility–might be the X-factor that pushes Detroit past the margins. And if Vest and Kahnle can deliver, while deadline arms hold course, the Tigers could ride a wave of high-leverage performance late into the season.
“We’ll see how we use our pitching,” Hinch said. “In these last 20-plus games, we’ve got to make decisions along the way to use our pitching. If we have guys that we can stretch out, we’re going to use them. Who starts, who doesn’t will be series by series.”
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