The Detroit Tigers’ pitching staff has continued to suffer injury woes this season. After placing right-hander Casey Mize on the 15-day injured list on May 10th due to a hamstring strain, the team lost another starter in Reese Olson, who went on the 15-day injured list with right finger inflammation retroactive to May 18th.
Olson has been excellent for the Tigers this season, pitching to the tune of a 2.96 ERA in 48 2/3 innings through nine starts. He is coming off one of his best starts of the season versus the Toronto Blue Jays, going six strong innings, allowing just one hit, and punching out six batters. He has been a great middle-of-the-rotation pitcher for a Tigers team that finds themselves with the best record in baseball at 31-16.
Reese Olson’s strong start to the season will be interrupted with a trip to the IL pic.twitter.com/Il1kecsrYg
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 19, 2025
Reese Olson Goes on 15-Day Injured List with Finger Inflammation
This isn’t the first time Olson has hit the IL in his MLB career, having gone through shoulder and hip injuries midway through the season last year that forced him into only three starts during July and caused him to miss all of August. He will be deeply missed in the Tigers’ starting rotation, especially with the uncertainty of when Mize will return. Olson has gone five or more innings in six of his nine starts, allowing the bullpen to remain fresh while he is on the mound.
In the meantime, the Tigers have called up RHP Chase Lee from Triple-A Toledo, who has already spent a fair amount of time in the major leagues this season. In eight appearances at the MLB level, Lee has nine strikeouts and four walks through nine innings pitched. He has only given up one earned run this season, providing the Tigers with another reliable pitcher. RHP Jack Flaherty has had his start pushed up to Thursday, with Mize looking to return to the mound this coming Saturday.
Photo Credit: © Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
