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.

Will Vest's recent injury raises concerns for the Detroit Tigers, as the team awaits further evaluation. The reliever exited during the eighth inning after expressing discomfort in his pinky finger, leading to three unearned runs scoring against him. Manager A.J. Hinch indicated that Vest would undergo a series of tests to assess the injury's severity. Vest's performance had been critical, with expectations for him to manage high-pressure situations, especially against the Reds' formidable batting lineup.

The fantasy baseball landscape is shifting rapidly with Week 11 of the season seeing significant changes in closer roles across the league. Camilo Doval of the San Francisco Giants is now the primary closer, having secured eight saves despite a recent setback. In Texas, Robert Garcia has replaced Luke Jackson in the ninth inning, showcasing his potential by delivering scoreless outings. The Arizona Diamondbacks are caught in a confusing bullpen dynamic, with Justin Martinez emerging as the likely closer after a string of impressive performances, while Shelby Miller remains a relevant option. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves face a closer crisis, with Raisel Iglesias struggling significantly this season, leading to a potential resurgence from Craig Kimbrel after his call-up from Triple-A. The Chicago Cubs have found their closer in Daniel Palencia, who has locked down five consecutive saves without allowing a run. The Detroit Tigers' bullpen features a tandem of Will Vest and Tommy Kahnle, both proving effective. Lastly, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins continue to grapple with murky closer situations, making strategic pickups critical for fantasy players.