Finnegan to IL, Meadows activated as Detroit shuffles a bullpen in flux. Finnegan’s tearful upgrade since the trade has been elite: 3-0 with four saves in 12 games, zero earned runs over 14 1/3 innings, 19 strikeouts. Vest stays in closer mix while Kahnle and Montero handle setup, as Paddack and Horn deal with personal leaves. Meadows adds center-field defense and a spark at the plate when healthy, giving Detroit a clear defensive upgrade.

Kyle Finnegan exited Detroit's bullpen with right groin tightness as the Tigers topped the Mets at Comerica Park. Will Vest warmed and finished the seventh, while Kerry Carpenter launched a three-run homer to pad Detroit's lead. Finnegan, who has been dominant since the trade (0 runs allowed in 14 1/3 IP with four saves in 12 appearances), casts bullpen uncertainty over Detroit ahead of an off day and a weekend series with the White Sox. Fantasy managers should monitor bullpen updates closely.

With the off day looming, Detroit’s relief roles could shift, making Vest a key streamer option if Finnegan misses time. The Mets’ Aaron and Soto presence adds another layer, while the White Sox visit could test Detroit’s depth in late innings.

Troy Melton is a weapon, not a traditional starter, for Detroit. The Tigers deploy him in short bursts, a plan that boosts wins and protects his innings. He sits 97 mph, has a six-pitch mix, and a 2.45 ERA with 0.89 WHIP across 29 1/3 innings in nine appearances (three starts).

His role anchors multi-inning stints that bridge to Finnegan and Vest, while a possible late-season start remains on the table. With a midweek workload and postseason upside, Melton reshapes the Tigers’ late-innings strategy and offers a versatile, high-upside option for fantasy managers seeking flexible arms with win equity.

Kyle Finnegan’s deadline-day move to Detroit has redefined the Tigers’ bullpen, turning him into a multi-inning weapon in late-innings high-leverage spots. In 13⅓ innings since the trade, he’s 0.00 ERA with a splitter-heavy, strike-throwing approach that lets Hinch deploy him for extended bursts. The deal landscape around him features a flood of reliever moves—Miller, Duran, Bednar, Helsley, Jax, Doval—setting a new late-inning baseline across the majors. Royals batters Pasquantino, Maikel Garcia and Salvador Perez loom as a contrasting late-game reference point for KC’s offenses.

The combination of Finnegan’s efficiency, endurance, and willingness to attack hitters in the toughest moments has shifted expectations for closers and bridge-to-close roles league-wide, impacting fantasy bullpen planning and daily lineup decisions as teams recalibrate leverage usage after the deadline chaos.