Before opening up a three-game set at home against the Chicago White Sox, the Detroit Tigers made a couple of injury announcements on Friday that will certainly impact them over the final weeks of the regular season.
According to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic, Parker Meadows is back off the injured list and will be starting in center field. However, taking Meadows' place on the injured list is relief pitcher Kyle Finnegan, who is dealing with a right adductor strain.
While Tigers fans are happy to see Meadows back with the big league club as the team tries to lock up the AL Central crown, they aren’t ecstatic about Finnegan’s injury, who has done a fantastic job out of the bullpen since being acquired from the Washington Nationals at the trade deadline.
Kyle Finnegan's IL Stint Puts Damper on Parker Meadows' Tigers Return
The veteran reliever initially suffered the injury while warming up in the bullpen on Wednesday afternoon. Finnegan reportedly experienced right groin tightness and didn’t pitch in that game.
The right-handed hurler has been tremendous since making his debut in the Motor City last month. In 12 appearances out of the bullpen with the Tigers, Finnegan has a stellar 3-0 record, 0.00 ERA, and four saves.
The Detroit native has only allowed three hits and three walks, while striking out 19 over 14.1 innings pitched, which just illustrates how dominant he’s been. His strikeout percentage is at a career-high 38.8, and he’s holding opponents to .068 at the plate.
With Finnegan on the shelf for at least a couple of weeks, Detroit hopes Will Vest can continue to pitch at a high level, along with Rafael Montero and Tommy Kahnle. Kahnle has gone through his struggles this season, but to his credit, he’s turned things around with six straight appearances without allowing a run.
As for Meadows and the Tigers’ offense, they will have to make sure to provide the bullpen with any insurance runs when given the opportunity in the late innings. In his last seven games at Triple-A Toledo, the versatile outfielder was hitting .261 with two doubles, a triple, and two RBI.
Detroit hopes he can provide some instant offense in his return to the big leagues, as they work to fill Finnegan’s void in the bullpen for the time being.