Tigers Bullpen Steps Up as Detroit Takes Series From Rangers

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Tigers Bullpen Steps Up as Detroit Takes Series From Rangers

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Tigers bullpen responds in series win over Rangers

The Detroit Tigers needed a complete pitching effort Sunday night, and they got it.

With the rotation disrupted and the bullpen still under the microscope after a tough stretch, Detroit leaned into the pitching chaos and made it work in a series-clinching victory over the Texas Rangers.

It wasn’t a traditional night on the mound. It was a confrontation match. AJ Hinch kept the line moving, trusted different arms in different spots and avoided forcing struggling relievers into spots that didn’t fit.

This has been one of Hinch’s strengths. If a guy is having trouble, he’s not going to keep running into him into the same wall just because the round says it’s his turn.

Detroit bullpen keeps game under control

The Tigers have had a lot of bullpen questions lately, especially after Kenley Jansen’s blown save in Atlanta. But over the past week, the relief group has begun to show signs of stabilizing.

The goal doesn’t need to be complicated. Give the team frames without a goal. It doesn’t matter where they come from or how pretty they are.

Sunday, Brant Hurter was excellent. Drew Anderson has also given Detroit some big innings recently. Will Vest and Tommy Kahnle continued to be part of the mix in the late innings, and recently called-up Mason Vanasco showed the kind of breaking ball that can make things interesting even if a run crossed home plate.

The most important thing is that the gears start turning. Enclosures are fragile by nature. One year, the same group may appear dominant. The following year, everything can collapse. But the opposite can also happen quickly, and Detroit’s bullpen gave the Tigers a real reason to feel better Sunday night.

Texas starter Jack Leiter had some legit stuff early in the game.

His fastball played in the upper 90s, and he mixed in sharp breaking balls and changeups that kept Detroit uncomfortable. Leiter, a decorated pitcher and former Vanderbilt teammate of Kumar Rocker, looked sharp early in the innings.

But young pitchers who throw a lot of strikes still need to avoid mistakes. Eventually, the Tigers found a few.

Detroit’s first three hits came on 0-2 pitches. It says a lot about how the Tigers stayed at bat and waited for Leiter to miss the plate.

Torkelson punishes a mistake

The big swing came after Riley Greene drew a walk to open the fifth inning.

Spencer Torkelson received a hanging breaking ball in an 0-2 count, and he didn’t miss it.

This has been one of the encouraging changes in Torkelson’s game of late. In the past, what was frustrating was seeing workable errors slip through the cracks. Over the last few weeks, he’s done a much better job of punishing those throws.

When Torkelson gets one he can handle, he has the kind of power that can change an inning quickly.

Kevin McGonigle continues to do the little things

Kevin McGonigle had two more hits Sunday night, but his biggest contribution wasn’t just scoring from the box.

On an RBI single, McGonigle immediately recognized a chance to take second base. With the defense slow to respond and Jake Rogers returning to third, McGonigle kept his eyes open, took the extra goal and helped Detroit create another point.

This is the kind of play that wins matches.

McGonigle continues to look like one of Detroit’s best high-leverage bats. With a runner in scoring position, especially with a runner on third, he gives the Tigers a professional at-bat. He makes contact, manages the moment and keeps pressure on the defense.

He made one mistake, but he also made some good defensive plays. The night as a whole was another reminder of the many ways he can help this team.

The Tigers take care of business at home

The Tigers probably should have swept the series, but they took care of business anyway.

They won the series, got back above .500 and continued to play good baseball at Comerica Park.

It was also a good day for Detroit sports, with the Pistons taking care of business early before the Tigers finished the night with a series victory.

For Detroit, the formula on Sunday was quite simple. The bullpen stepped up, the lineup punished mistakes and McGonigle once again handled the little details that separate a close victory from a missed opportunity.