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.