Detroit Tigers
· 2026-07-03
The Detroit Tigers placed struggling reliever Will Vest on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation.
This is Vest's second stint on the IL this year due to an arm injury, having missed time in May with forearm inflammation.
Vest spent time as the Tigers' primary closer last year, picking up 23 saves with a 3.01 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 68.2 innings.
This season has been a different story for Vest, with a bloated 6.08 ERA and 1.425 WHIP in 27 appearances.
The Tigers are 13th in the American League with a 38-50 record, having lost 10-4 to the Texas Rangers on July 3, 2026.
The move marks the latest injury to the Tigers' pitching staff, with notable absences including Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize, and Justin Verlander.
The team is nine games back of the division-leading Chicago White Sox in the AL Central and 6.5 games back of the final AL Wild Card spot.
Kyle Finnegan and Drew Anderson will likely step into more high-leverage situations to support closer Kenley Jansen.
The Tigers recalled reliever Beau Brieske from Triple-A Toledo in a corresponding move, who could fill a high-leverage role in the bullpen.
The Tigers will play Game 3 of their series against the New York Yankees on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium.
Vest does not have a timetable for return, which will test the Tigers' bullpen depth.
The team's struggles have led to trade rumors involving Skubal ahead of the trade deadline in early August.
As the MLB All-Star Break approaches, the Tigers will look to regroup and make a push for the playoffs.
But for now, they will have to navigate the challenges of a depleted pitching staff.
And with Vest's injury, the Tigers' bullpen will need to step up to support the team.
So the focus will be on Finnegan and Anderson to fill the void left by Vest's injury.
The Tigers' pitching staff has been decimated by injuries, with Vest's injury being the latest blow.
The team will need to find a way to overcome these injuries if they want to make a push for the playoffs.