{"id":124754,"date":"2026-06-29T13:24:56","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T17:24:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=124754"},"modified":"2026-06-29T13:24:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T17:24:56","slug":"detroit-tigers-bullpen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2026\/06\/29\/detroit-tigers-bullpen\/","title":{"rendered":"The Detroit Tigers Bullpen Is Major Reason for Team Struggling"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Detroit Tigers bullpen has cost the team a lot of wins so far in 2026. The weekend’s games at home against the Houston Astros were not atypical of the reliever’s struggles this season, but rather emblematic of them. With the trade deadline fast approaching, teams will need to ask themselves honestly whether or not they will be able to compete now or will have to build for the future. Coupled with an imbalanced offense<\/a>, the Detroit Tigers bullpen may have already made the Motown team’s choice for them.<\/p>\n

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What\u2019s Gone Wrong With the Detroit Tigers Bullpen in 2026<\/h2>\n

Saturday’s game between the Tigers and Astros was the third of four games between the two, with the series tied 1-1. Framber Valdez<\/a> got through six innings of work, yielding four runs, but the offense managed to plate six, meaning the Detroit Tigers bullpen was getting a lead with just three innings to get through. Drew Anderson<\/a> gave up one in the seventh before the wheels came off for Will Vest<\/a> in the eighth inning. Three Astros crossed the plate, with two of the runs going down as earned after a wonky James Outman<\/a> error. Interestingly, Vest has been fantastic in the ninth innings over the last two years, but hasn’t had much luck beforehand.<\/p>\n

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Over the last two seasons when Will Vest appears in the 9th inning the Tigers are 41-6<\/p>\n

When Vest appears in the 8th inning or earlier the Tigers are 25-24 pic.twitter.com\/CxLciRCf44<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Tigers Data (@TigersData) June 27, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n