Can Detroit Tigers get to 96 wins in 2025? Here’s what it would take
On “Days of Roar,” Evan Petzold and Chris Brown break down what’s going right for the Detroit Tigers in the past month, plus if 96 wins is achievable.
At the beginning of September, the Detroit Tigers were ready to count on designated hitter Justyn-Henry Malloy and right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long as MLB rosters expanded from 26 to 28 players, but on the first day of the month, the Tigers called up right-handed reliever Chase Lee as their extra pitcher.
It was just part of the roster shuffle.
The Tigers promoted Lee as a one-day placeholder because Gipson-Long wasn’t scheduled to pitch until Tuesday, Sept. 2, against the New York Mets at Comerica Park. Lee sat in the bullpen in case of an emergency, but the Tigers never used him Monday in the 10-8 loss to the Mets.
“I had to have a conversation with Chase Lee,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Tuesday on MLB Network Radio. “We sent him down again. We just wanted an arm for one day if we needed him. I actually got him up later in the game but didn’t use him.”
The Tigers never planned to active Gipson-Long for Monday’s game because they didn’t need him to pitch until Tuesday’s game, which he is scheduled to start.
Wasting a roster spot — even though the Tigers didn’t use Lee — would have been foolish, especially with the bullpen grinding through six games in six days.
“He wasn’t active yesterday, so we don’t generally like to list someone who’s not active,” Hinch said of Gipson-Long. “Sawyer Gipson-Long is going to come up and be in the rotation and start against the Mets. … We’re excited to get him back.”
What’s next for Gipson-Long?
The Tigers could’ve optioned Gipson-Long for left-handed reliever Bailey Horn, eligible to return Tuesday after spending 15 days in Toledo, but instead, the Tigers committed to at least one more opportunity. (Before Tuesday’s game, Horn was called up as the replacement for fellow lefty Drew Sommers.)
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Gipson-Long is scheduled to pitch — either as a starter or bulk reliever — in the upcoming three-game series against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, from Sept. 9-11.
“He should get another start, or at least pitch, next week against the Yankees,” Hinch said. “We’re excited to get him back. He’s been on and off the injured list throughout the season.”
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Entering Tuesday’s start, Gipson-Long has a 4.32 ERA with four walks and 20 strikeouts across 25 innings in six games (two starts) with the Tigers. Additionally, the 27-year-old owns a 4.13 ERA across 32â…” innings in Triple-A Toledo.
Earlier this season, Gipson-Long rejoined the Tigers on June 4 after Tommy John surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
He also spent time on the injured list with neck stiffness.
“He’s been pretty effective,” Hinch said. “There are some pretty good weapons that he can spread around in an at-bat and make guys a little bit uncomfortable. He’s going to get a lot of lefties against the Mets, so it’s going to be important for him to mix his pitches and use all of his weapons.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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