Kyle Finnegan is one step closer to returning to the Detroit Tigers.
The 34-year-old — a right-handed reliever acquired from the Washington Nationals at the July 31 trade deadline — is beginning a rehab assignment Thursday, Sept. 18, with Triple-A Toledo. He hasn’t competed for the Tigers since Aug. 31, landing on the injured list since Sept. 1 with a right adductor strain.
It’s unclear how many rehab games Finnegan needs to pitch with the Mud Hens before the Tigers activate him, but manager A.J. Hinch said he will pitch one inning in Thursday’s outing.
Finnegan is the Tigers’ best reliever.
Before the injury, Finnegan posted a 3.21 ERA with 17 walks and 51 strikeouts across 53⅓ innings in 52 games, including 14⅓ scoreless innings in 12 games since joining the Tigers at the trade deadline. The six-year MLB veteran has racked up 24 saves in 30 opportunities, logging four with the Tigers.
With Finnegan, the Tigers’ bullpen ranked first among the 30 MLB teams with a 2.98 ERA in August. Without Finnegan, the Tigers’ bullpen ranks 20th with a 5.04 ERA in September.
In Finnegan’s absence, the Tigers have been forced to rely on right-handed relievers Will Vest, Tommy Kahnle and Rafael Montero as their primary high-leverage relievers.
During September, Montero has given up three runs in seven innings, Vest has surrendered three runs in 6⅓ innings, and Kahnle has allowed two runs in 6⅓ innings.
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Paul Sewald reports to Comerica Park
Right-handed reliever Paul Sewald completed the fifth and final game of his rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Toledo, returning from a right shoulder strain. The 35-year-old is expected to be activated Friday from the injured list for the series opener against the Atlanta Braves at Comerica Park.
Sewald hasn’t pitched in MLB since July 11.
Additionally, he has pitched in MLB just four times since April 28.
“Wait and see,” Hinch said.
The Tigers acquired Sewald — a nine-year MLB veteran — from the Cleveland Guardians at the trade deadline. For the Guardians, Sewald posted a 4.70 ERA, four walks and 18 strikeouts across 15⅓ innings in 18 games.
His four-seam fastball averaged 90.3 mph, and his sweeper generated a 37.2% whiff rate.
“We acquired him because we believe in his ability to get outs anytime during the game,” Hinch said. “The more the merrier for us. We could use his experience. We could use his unique delivery. He’s got a different angle. He’s got good stuff. All that is really good.”
On rehab assignment, Sewald appeared in two games for High-A West Michigan and three games for Triple-A Toledo. He was responsible for one run on three hits and one walk with four strikeouts across 4⅔ innings, averaging 15.8 pitches per outing.
The most important information?
Sewald is healthy.
“I feel healthy, so that’s the most important part,” Sewald said before Wednesday’s game. “Now it’s like, how well can you pitch? That’s a good problem to have. You go through that whether you’re healthy or not healthy. Pitching well being my only focus is nice.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Kyle Finnegan injury update: Reliever is ready for rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo
Reporting by Evan Petzold, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
