The Detroit Tigers bullpen absolutely torched their 2026 season, and that’s not even an exaggeration. We’re talking 31 blown saves, second most in all of Major League Baseball, just behind the Washington Nationals. Think about that: 31 times they had a chance to seal the deal, and 31 times it went sideways.
A Season of Near Misses (and Total Misses)
Dude, this bullpen issue wasn’t some late-season collapse. It was crystal clear way back in May. The team was dealing with injuries, badly needed wins without putting up 5-6 runs every night, and what happened? The bullpen just kept coughing up leads. It got a little better in June and July, which gave us a glimmer of hope, right? But by mid-August, just when the team clawed its way back into the divisional race and the offense sputtered again, the pen couldn’t even manage an average amount of wins in those tight 8th and 9th inning situations. Losing most of your close games? That’s a terrible recipe for success. We ended up with the second worst record in baseball in one-run games. You can’t win like that.
The Pen’s Plan Went Sideways
It’s almost ironic, especially with all the complaints about AJ Hinch being a ‘slave to analytics,’ that this roster construction feels like the least sabermetric thing ever. A bullpen this terrible just laughs at WAR numbers and run differential. Yet, the focus felt like it was all on the starting rotation, not on winning those high-leverage battles that the team with a solid pen usually snags. Will Vest was supposed to be the anchor this year, but man, he was never truly right and eventually got sidelined by injuries. And honestly, that’s just how it goes with relievers, even more so than starters. Getting elite production year after year out of them is tough, which is why those consistently great closers cost a fortune in free agency. Drew Sommers, though, he might be our guy next year. He’s only recently figured out how to really command that fastball-slider combo and he’s just started getting his shot in high-leverage spots over the last six weeks. Beyond those two? It’s been a hodgepodge of low-strikeout middle relievers and that veteran “Swiss Army knife” Tyler Holto. Not exactly a recipe for shutting down an opponent in the ninth, you know?
Yeah, the offense has its own issues, that “Jekyll and Hyde” streakiness, and needing another good, low-strikeout bat like, say, an Alex Bregman, plus better hitting in high-leverage spots. But let’s be real, the overwhelming problem this season was the complete lack of reliable high-leverage relievers. If the Tigers really did start to bunt and run more in September, and if they’re building a more versatile offense, that’s cool. But until they fix that bullpen, until they get guys who can actually close out a game in the 8th and 9th, it’s gonna be a long road. We need to see that change, and we need to see it soon. Can’t wait to see who steps up.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bless You Boys.
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