The Detroit Tigers are fighting for their playoff lives and have clawed back to relevancy in both the divisional and Wild Card races thanks to several standout performances from players such as Tarik Skubal, Dillon Dingler and Kenley Jansen. It is the reliever’s recent performances that have been most surprising, given his struggles early in the season. Kenley Jansen’s improvements will be key to locking down games for the Tigers as they attempt to secure an unlikely berth in the postseason.
Kenley Jansen’s Improvements Key for Potential Tigers Playoff Run
Jansen’s improvements have been most visible over his last five appearances entering play on Sunday. Over that stretch, the reliever has logged five innings of scoreless work while striking out seven batters. Three of these appearances came against the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs, two teams that currently occupy playoff positions in the National League. These appearances have gone a long way to helping the Tigers to a 6-3 record since the All-Star break and a 28-16 record since June 1. Jansen’s improvements have been keenly felt for a Detroit team for whom the bullpen is a weakness.
Injuries have limited Jansen this season, a theme for the Motown ball club. He spent time on the IL at the end of May with inflammation, which flared up again in June. Injuries to relievers such as Will Vest, currently on the IL, Bailey Horn, Brant Hurter, and Burch Smith have meant the team has relied on just a few arms. Drew Anderson, fresh from three seasons pitching overseas, leads the bullpen in innings pitched. Tyler Holton and Kyle Finnegan, far from the game’s best arms, have also logged 45+ innings pitched in 2026.
Kenley shuts the door!
Save energy at home with these tips: https://t.co/sm4zCCupj6 pic.twitter.com/eeBrEnn93C
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) July 25, 2026
Jansen’s improvements have helped take the burden off of those unproven arms in high-leverage situations. Alongside Holton and Jacob Waguespack, Jansen has emerged over the last several weeks as the natural answer for the late stages of tight games.
Trade Deadline Offers Opportunity, Also Risk
As many strides forward as the bullpen has made, this group isn’t quite enough to help a team make a playoff run. Jansen’s improvements aside, there isn’t much hope for much more from this group. Finnegan has decent numbers, but scenes like those from Saturday’s 3-2 loss are all too familiar. Salvador Perez hit a big fly off of the right-hander in the 7th inning to draw the game level, and Holton had to come in to relieve the former Tigers closer.
Waguespack doesn’t have a long track record of high-leverage relief, and Anderson is a swing man, so not used to coming in late or with runners on base. Keider Montero is an internal solution to the bullpen, but he has been a revelation as a starter. Plus, the injury bug has recently hit the rotation again as Jack Flaherty will be on the IL until after the trade deadline, and there is still no return date for Justin Verlander. So, the natural conclusion would be to dip into the trade market for relief help.
However, with most of the baseball world expecting the Tigers to trade Tarik Skubal before August 3, it isn’t a foregone conclusion that the team will address the bullpen. Being that the team holds the joint best record in MLB with the Boston Red Sox since June 1, there is a strong argument that the team should both buy and sell. Keeping Skubal wouldn’t be the smartest long-term plan, and doing so may also put the Tigers above the luxury tax threshold at season’s end.
The Last Word
It’s clear that to make a run at the playoffs, Jansen’s improvements will have to be complemented by at least one bullpen acquisition. However, it remains to be seen if the team has enough faith to commit to buying at the deadline and making a run at a playoff spot.
Main Photo Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
