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.

Milwaukee remains the standard-bearer as Christian Yelich fuels a dramatic run by the Brewers, whose early-season momentum has become late-season certainty. His two-homer, five-RBI eruption during a big comeback underscores Milwaukee’s depth and the fantasy upside in a lineup designed for multi-category impact.

Kyle Finnegan’s Tigers bullpen surge reshapes late-inning plans, pairing with Will Vest for a trusted 1-2 punch that’s locked in saves and shutout appearances. Detroit’s short-term stability boosts the bullpen-friendly fantasy outlook as the calendar turns toward October.

Dodgers’ rotation health re-upgrades their October ceiling with Kershaw, Snell and Glasnow delivering, even after a rough patch in the Freeway Series. Los Angeles is positioned to ride solid pitching and timely hits into the postseason, a favorable sign for fantasy rotations and streaming decisions.

Alejandro Kirk and Myles Straw green-light Jays offense as speed and base-running efficiency reframe their offense, while Alejandro Kirk’s first stolen base adds a new dimension behind the plate. Toronto’s balance of speed and power translates well into fantasy value as the race tightens.

Ramon Laureano’s Padres debut sparks a powerful, multi-dimensional offense—.339/.403/.679 with four homers in 15 games—that shores up San Diego’s output even as Michael King lands on the IL. Jung Hoo Lee flashes premium defensive value and an eye-popping catch that keeps San Francisco in the conversation for late-season momentum.

As the week closes, the landscape hints at a tightening playoff chase: Mariners, Yankees, Phillies, Cubs and the rest grid for momentum into September, with injuries and bullpen depth shaping the next wave of fantasy moves and betting angles.

The Tigers pursued depth over splash at the deadline, adding seven pitchers to reinforce rotation and bullpen while protecting top prospects. Finnegan’s late-season surge culminated in a 0.00 ERA over seven outings with four saves, paired with Will Vest to anchor the closer mix. Paddack and Morton bolster a thinning rotation, while Seawald, Montero, Dobnak and Heuer offer MLB experience for mid-innings. No third-base upgrade, but the balance has yielded immediate positives and could fuel a postseason push.

Detroit’s late-inning bullpen has become a two-headed closing unit. Since the July 31 trade, Kyle Finnegan and Will Vest have combined for a 1.26 ERA over 14⅓ innings, converting six saves (four by Finnegan, two by Vest) with an unselfish, no-ego approach. Hinch leverages matchup-based usage and keeps arms fresh, turning a shaky bullpen into a reliable late-inning backbone for a postseason push.

Vest and Finnegan split ninth-inning duties and enter at will, forging a flexible closers’ corps that gives Detroit multiple paths to win down the stretch. Their success sits alongside the league’s elite closers, with Clase and Hader setting a high bar, underscoring how depth and smart planning—paired with two dependable finishers—can stabilize late innings when it counts most.

The Finnegan acquisition from Washington and Vest’s fit have reshaped Detroit’s late-game plan, providing Hinch with two reliable options to close out games. In 2025, Vest sits at a 2.55 ERA with strong strikeout rates and modest walks; Finnegan sits at 3.66 with a comparable control profile. Together they form a steadying force for a bullpen that had been uneven, offering a clear blueprint for how to navigate the stretch run and into October.

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.