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MINNEAPOLIS — The Detroit Tigers have added a left-handed reliever to their bullpen to combat the left-handed hitters on the Minnesota Twins‘ roster.
The Tigers recalled Bailey Horn from Triple-A Toledo.
It was a strategic move.
“Series by series, sometimes game by game, we’re going to use our guys the best way we can and expand this pitching staff,” manager A.J. Hinch said Thursday, Aug. 14, before the opener of a four-game series against the Twins at Target Field. “Maybe not always comfortable for the last guy in the bullpen, but it does help you win series, and strategically, it’s good to always have a fresh arm when you can.”
Horn registered a 3.06 ERA with 18 walks and 44 strikeouts across 35â…“ innings in 26 games for the Mud Hens. The 27-year-old previously pitched three games for the Tigers in 2025, posting a 3.38 ERA with one walk and three strikeouts over 2â…” innings.
Left-handed hitters have struggled against Horn, with a .189 batting average and a .577 OPS in 64 plate appearances. Meanwhile, right-handed hitters have crushed him, hitting .304 with a .815 OPS in 115 plate appearances.
Among their 13 position players, the Twins have six left-handed hitters and two switch-hitters.
“Obviously, he’s going to get some matchups over the course of these four games, whenever he gets in there,” Hinch said. “But they could always combat it with some righties. It’s good velocity. He’s been working hard on having a secondary pitch. He is fearless, which is good.”
For the Twins, three left-handed hitters are among their top six players on offense: Matt Wallner (.804 OPS in 76 games), ex-Tiger Kody Clemens (.767 OPS in 75 games) and Trevor Larnach (.733 OPS in 108 games).
The Tigers have three left-handed relievers — Horn (3.38 ERA in three games), Brant Hurter (2.50 ERA in 37 games) and Tyler Holton (3.79 ERA in 51 games) — to put themselves in favorable matchups during the four-game series.
“For the left-handed hitters, it’s really easy to think Tyler Holton tonight after (Tarik) Skubal, or it’s really easy to think Hurter at some point,” Hinch said. “We now have the opportunity to give different looks to those left-handed hitters over the course of four days. That’s tougher with two, easier with three.”
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To open a roster spot, the Tigers optioned right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long to Triple-A Toledo.
Gipson-Long, 27, joined the Tigers on Wednesday, Aug. 13, for their 1-0 win in the finale of a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field, activating him from the injured list. He tossed two scoreless innings out of the bullpen, throwing 15 of 17 pitches for strikes.
The next day, the Tigers optioned Gipson-Long — who will return to his role as a starter in Triple-A Toledo — in favor of Horn for the four-game series against the Twins.
“I think a lot of guys know that they’re in the mix and certainly can pitch their way to a more stable role,” Hinch said. “It’s nothing against Sawyer or anybody else that we’ve worked in and out. We’re trying to have as many pitchers as we can.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This story was updated to add a gallery. Â