Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch on the bullpen: "If we were just identified ... as a ninth-inning guy, what an opportunity we would have missed..."
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. So the Tigers summoned right-handed reliever Kyle Finnegan from the bullpen to clean up the mess.
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."
The Tigers ended up winning, 7-5.
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 with four saves in nine appearances since joining the Tigers. 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."
Finnegan shut down the Royals in the top of the seventh, then the Tigers supported their top reliever by scoring four runs in the bottom of the inning.
The breakthrough secured a 7-3 lead.
With the victory, the Tigers increased their American League Central lead over the Royals to 10½ games.
"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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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 his 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."
Contact Evan Petzold at [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Kyle Finnegan leads Detroit Tigers' bullpen with no defined closer
Category: Baseball
