Detroit may be quietly shaping the most dynamic edge in baseball's second half: bullpen depth. Under A.J. Hinch, the Tigers are leaning into a bullpen-by-committee that can morph for each opponent, each series, and every postseason scenario. Deadline additions—Kyle Finnegan, Rafael Montero, Codi Heuer, and Paul Seawald—gave Hinch a deep pool to shuffle, preserving a fresh arm throughout a long run. The supporting cast—Will Vest, Tyler Holton, Brant Hurter, Alex Lange, Troy Melton, Brenan Hanifee, Tommy Kahnle, Chase Lee, Sawyer Gipson-Long, Bailey Horn and more—forms a flexible web that keeps the late innings in play even with injuries or fatigue looming.
In practical terms, Detroit can deploy a bullpen with multiple flavors: lefty and righty matchups, longer relief to bridge to late-inning relievers, and a revolving door of setup options that keeps a keen edge on leverage. Vest’s 2.55 ERA anchors a strong core, while Lange and Seawald bring back-end options that indirectly multiply holds and occasional saves for fantasy managers. With roughly a month left in the regular season, the Tigers’ depth could carry them through September and into October with a lineup that thrives on matchup-driven bullpen usage.
Bottom line: Detroit’s bullpen depth creates flexibility that few teams can replicate, turning relief innings into a strategic asset rather than a single closer’s nightly task. If Hinch gets the right configurations, this depth becomes a real fantasy differentiator in holds-heavy leagues and a potential source of collateral saves in tight races.
