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.

Roger Clemens spoke to Minnesota’s pitching staff, imparting unflinching confidence and the idea that their best stuff can top any hitter. His artwork of belief taps into Kody Clemens’ long-running mentorship, a storyline that threads through the Twins’ clubhouse as the team inches toward critical series play.

Buxton shifted from leadoff to a higher-leverage spot, a move Baldelli described as an effort to weave in-base opportunities in front of him. In 58 leadoff games, Buxton slashed .295 with a .982 OPS, and his willingness to adapt hints at a team-wide focus on maximizing offense even when the club hasn’t piled up runs consistently. The Twins’ Thursday matchup features Bailey Ober squaring off with Tarik Skubal, a marquee AL showdown that could tilt fantasy lines. Chris Paddack’s return angle adds another chapter as Minnesota eyes more rotation stability.

Chris Paddack is laser-focused on throwing first-pitch strikes, a habit he has sharpened since joining the Tigers. In three starts after the deadline deal, he’s posted an 83.1% first-pitch strike rate, anchoring Detroit’s plan to chase 0-1 counts and widen the two-strike window. His 76-pitch, one-run gem against Chicago illustrated the upside when he hits the zone with authority and executes with two strikes. Yet the profile also carries risk: high exit velocities on balls in play suggest occasional hard contact as aggressiveness invites loud contact.

Paddack’s 2025 line sits at a 4.76 ERA with 28 walks and 92 strikeouts over 126⅔ innings across 24 starts ( Twins and Tigers ). While eight starts have featured zero walks and a 3.74 ERA, 16 starts with at least one walk temper expectations. Tigers ESPN-favored approach centers on being ahead 0-1, then expanding the zone to pressure hitters. The blend of contact-orientation and strike-zone attack defines his fantasy trajectory: steady innings with favorable ratios when the command holds, tempered by the volatility of contact-heavy outings.

Spencer Torkelson delivered a ninth-inning go-ahead homer off Brandon Eisert, a moment that snapped his club’s recent rough patch and underscored Detroit’s late-season push. The 393-foot shot, deflected by the foul pole, came in the Tigers’ 2-1 win over the White Sox, giving Torkelson career-high relevance as he chases a 36-HR pace this season. A rain delay paused play for 63 minutes, but Detroit’s bullpen—led by Kyle Finnegan and Will Vest—locked down the final outs after a strong start from Chris Paddack. The win keeps Detroit within sight of the AL East’s pace and solidifies their 6.5-game cushion in the AL Central.

In a lineup that features Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, and Gleyber Torres, Detroit shows depth beyond Torkelson. Carpenter (.833 OPS in 91 games), Greene (.820 OPS in 116), and Torres (.784 OPS in 106) have provided steady power and on-base potential, helping the Tigers surge to 69-51 and a comfortable lead in the division. Detroit’s recent form—nine wins in 14 games after a late-season swoon—sets up a fantasy landscape where Torkelson’s power, Carpenter’s OBP, and Greene’s speed-and-run potential look like core pieces for a playoff push.

Spencer Torkelson delivered a dramatic ninth-inning homer to lift the Detroit Tigers to a 2-1 win over the Chicago White Sox, a pivotal moment in a late-season push. The blast off Brandon Eisert hit the left-field foul pole and marked Torkelson’s 26th homer in 114 games, underscoring his growing power and late-game upside for fantasy rosters.

Detroit’s bullpen closed the door behind a rain delay, with Will Vest earning his 17th save after Kyle Finnegan worked the eighth. Chris Paddack, acquired at the trade deadline, has shown elite velocity but struggled in three Tigers starts, while Cleveland’s Colson Montgomery and Chicago’s other youngsters provided the night’s offensive buzz for the Sox. The Tigers sit 69-51 and have won nine of 14 entering this stretch, while Paddack’s White Sox remain a study in high-end stuff vs. some opponents and soft contact against others.