Detroit Tigers' no-role bullpen keeps paying off with Kyle Finnegan in biggest moments

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Separate thread for those who struggle with how Hinch uses his bullpen.

# Detroit Tigers’ no-role bullpen keeps paying off with Kyle Finnegan in biggest moments
Full article at Link.

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The Detroit Tigers were in a bad spot.

The Tigers and Kansas City Royals were tied, 3-3, with two runners on and no outs in the top of the seventh inning Friday, Aug. 22, at Comerica Park. To clean up the mess, the Tigers summoned right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan from the bullpen.

It wasn’t a save situation.

But it was the biggest moment of the game.

“The reason we do all the pitching the way that we do it is for games like this,” manager A.J. Hinch said after Friday’s game. “If we were just one-inning guys, that wouldn’t be possible. If we were just identified as a seventh-inning guy, an eighth-inning guy, a ninth-inning guy, what an opportunity we would have missed to win this game.”

… Facing Finnegan, superstar Bobby Witt Jr. grounded into a double play and slugger Vinnie Pasquantino flew out — squandering a scoring opportunity.

Just like that, the Finnegan-led Tigers escaped the most dangerous threat from the red-hot Royals in Friday’s opener of a three-game series. After the seventh, Finnegan returned to the mound and delivered a scoreless eighth inning.

“I thought it was a spot I might be getting into, so I was ready to go,” Finnegan said after Friday’s game. "I came in and was able to get us out of the seventh and go back out for the eighth.

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Finnegan, who turns 34 in early September, has a 3.44 ERA with 24 saves in the 2025 season, including 10⅔ scoreless innings with two walks and 12 strikeouts in nine appearances since joining the Tigers, with four saves. From 2023-25, Finnegan ranks No. 3 among MLB relievers with 94 saves.

He didn’t care that Friday’s outing wasn’t a save situation.

“It’s been fun. We’re winning. We’re playing good ball,” Finnegan said. “Guys are ready for any opportunity that they can get. We understand that we’re going to be used in a variety of situations. That’s something we take a lot of pride in.”

…“That game was rocking,” Finnegan said, referencing the 33,467 fans at Comerica Park. “We played a great game in all facets of the game, and to win a game like that against a team that’s been hot in the division, what more can you ask for?”

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From same article linked above

Paul Sewald reacts to 1st bullpen session

Right-handed reliever Paul Sewald (right shoulder strain) has been injured since the Tigers acquired him from the Cleveland Guardians at the July 31 trade deadline. The 35-year-old isn’t eligible to return from the 60-day injured list until Sept. 10.

Sewald completed his first bullpen session Saturday, Aug. 23, at Comerica Park.

“It’s always how you bounce back from these things,” Sewald said. “My adrenaline is going to carry me through my first bullpen. It’s how you respond tomorrow and the next day so we can go at it again. I’m really excited about how it went. I felt good. No issues. We’ll take it day-by-day from here.”

It was a 20-pitch session.

Sewald threw all four-seam fastballs.

Eventually, he will integrate sweepers into the bullpens.

“As he feels better, my cautionary tale is to just be patient with the workload,” Hinch said. “As he gets more activity, his personality and his desire is going to be to do more.”

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DetNews on Sewald

First step for Sewald

Before the game Saturday, veteran reliever Paul Sewald, acquired at the trade deadline though he is on the 60-day injured list with a shoulder strain, threw his first full bullpen since he was shut down in July.

“Felt great,” he said. “But it’s always how you bounce back from these things. My adrenaline is going to carry me through my first pen but it’s how you respond tomorrow and the next day and then get at it again.”

Sewald said he threw “20-ish” pitches, all fastballs.

“I’m really excited with how it went,” he said. “Felt good, no issues, but we will take it day by day from here.”

Hinch said his concern going forward is more about Sewald’s patience level.

“Can we keep him patient enough to wait,” he said. “We’re toward the end of August but he’s not eligible to come off the injured list until early September. As he feels better, my cautionary tale is him just being patient with the workload.”

Hinch said the goal is to ramp him up and sync up the rehab assignment so that he’s full-go by the time he’s eligible to come off the injured list.

“But as he’s getting more activity, his personality and desire is to want to do more,” Hinch said. “Patience is the biggest test.”

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[Weaselpuppy]

Sewald had the pedigree, but not the results for a couple years. Fetter can fix him.

It’s not the straight jet fuel like last year’s Guardians bullpen or even the 2015 Royals (or 1990 Reds Nasty Boys), but Sewald-Vest-Finnegan is a real problem if they are dialed in.

[CasanovaJack1]

Sparky Anderson knew coaching, and he said that you can judge a coach by how many 1 run games he wins. Well, I think we lead the league.

[kalspa]

I prefer bullpen chaos over starter chaos. I bet Hinch does too.