The 2025 MLB postseason is just over a month away as August enters its final stretch. The Detroit Tigers are still atop the American League standings as they boast a 74-53 record as of Tuesday afternoon, highlighting the great position they're in to be World Series threats this fall.
Any player hoping to be a part of the Tigers' upcoming playoff run must be on the roster at 11:59 p.m. ET on Aug. 31, or else they'll be ineligible. In other words, the next few weeks will be crucial for Detroit players to prove their worth to manager A.J. Hinch's staff, including a veteran reliever whose job is all but surely in jeopardy.
Tigers RHP Tommy Kahnle Has Less Than 2 Weeks to Save Job Before Playoff Deadline
Time is running out for veteran right-handed pitcher Tommy Kahnle to prove that he belongs on the Tigers' postseason roster.
Detroit thought it was bolstering its bullpen when it signed Kahnle to a one-year contract ahead of the 2025 season. The 11-year veteran proved to be one of the AL's best pitchers during his second stint with the New York Yankees, pitching to a 2.38 ERA with 94 strikeouts and three saves in 83 1/3 innings across the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
At first, Kahnle seemed poised to pick up from where he left off. The Latham, NY native tallied a 1.77 ERA in his first 34 appearances while often playing in a late-game role, picking up 11 holds, eight saves, and 31 strikeouts along the way. Unfortunately, it's all been downhill since then.
Kahnle has looked like a completely different pitcher after the calendar flipped to July. He owns a horrific 15.00 ERA across 12 innings in his last 16 appearances, having given up 20 earned runs and four homers on 21 hits to go along with 14 walks. He's often been pitching in the sixth and seventh innings as of late, showing that the Tigers coaching staff can no longer count on him for late-game moments.
Unless he completely turns back the clock and pitches like the early-season version of himself, it's nearly impossible to justify using Kahnle in a key role this postseason. His stock is clearly dropping with each passing month, and the last thing the Tigers need is for that downward trend to continue into September and October.
If he continues to flounder in the coming days, Tigers fans shouldn't be surprised if Kahnle's role in the bullpen is closer to being non-existent sooner rather than later.