Jansen picked up the save in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Royals. He allowed no hits or walks while striking out two over a perfect inning.
Jansen entered with a three-run cushion and made quick work of the Royals, retiring the side in order to secure his seventh save of the season. Sunday marked the 38-year-old's first save since April 22, his first multi-strikeout outing since March 27 and just his second appearance of May. Overall, the right-hander has been up and down in 2026, posting a 4.82 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with a 12:5 K:BB across 9.1 innings.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Could have pitched Sunday
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Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that Jansen (groin/abdomen) could have pitched, if needed, during Sunday's 7-1 win over the Rangers, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Jansen had been dealing with some right groin/abdomen tightness since Wednesday, but Hinch explained that the right-hander would have been called upon if a save chance was available Sunday. The 38-year-old appears to be healthy heading into Monday's series opener with the Red Sox, and Jansen will look to get back on track against one of his former squads. He's surrendered four runs on three hits -- including two home runs -- and a walk while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning over his last two appearances, both of which resulted in blown saves.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Dealing with groin soreness
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Manager A.J. Hinch said Saturday that Jansen has been day-to-day with right groin/abdomen soreness, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Jansen has been dealing with the injury ever since his most recent appearance Wednesday in Atlanta, during which he conceded two earned runs and failed to record an out. He doesn't seem to be trending toward a trip to the injured list at the moment, though that could change if he doesn't return within the next few days.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Blows another save Wednesday
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Jansen (0-2) allowed two runs on a hit and a walk while not retiring any batters to blow the save and take the loss Wednesday against Atlanta.
Staked to a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, Jansen came unraveled quickly. He walked Ozzie Albies to start the frame, then served up a walkoff home run to Matt Olson. It was Jansen's second straight blown save opportunity and his third already this year in nine chances to go along with a 6.14 ERA. The veteran's impressive MLB track record suggests he'll be given some leeway in the closer role, though he has not been overly effective so far in his first season with the Tigers.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Blows second save Friday
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Jansen (0-1) blew the save and took the loss Friday as the Tigers fell 9-8 to the Reds, giving up two runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning. He struck out one.
The two teams took turns putting runs on the board in every inning except the first, and Jansen couldn't break that pattern in the ninth while trying to protect an 8-7 lead, allowing a two-out single to Spencer Steer before Nathaniel Lowe belted a walk-off homer. It was Jansen's second blown save of the year, but those are the only two times he's been scored upon in nine appearances so far in 2026. On the season, the veteran closer sports a 3.68 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB in 7.1 innings with six saves.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Secures save despite shaky outing
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Jansen worked around a hit and two walks to pitch a scoreless inning and secure the save in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Brewers. He struck out one.
Jansen was probably fortunate to have a three-run lead, as he got some traffic on the bases in the ninth inning but ultimately shut things down for his sixth save of the year in seven chances. The veteran reliever has a sparkling 1.35 ERA and has struck out eight batters across 6.2 innings so far. Even at the age of 38, Jansen continues to look like an effective MLB closer, and the Tigers seem comfortable with him in that role moving forward.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Picks up save vs. former team
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Jansen earned the save in the Tigers' 4-1 win over the Red Sox on Saturday, allowing one hit with no strikeouts or walks in a scoreless ninth inning.
Jansen gave up a single to Willson Contreras but needed just nine pitches to record the next three outs, earning the save against the team he suited up for in 2023 and 2024. Jansen has converted five of six save opportunities this season (including four straight) and has a 1.59 ERA and 0.88 WHIP over 5.2 innings.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Records another save Wednesday
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Jansen worked around a hit to toss a scoreless inning and earn the save in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Royals. He struck out one.
Jansen recorded his second save in as many days, and he now has four this year in five opportunities. The veteran righty also has a strong 1.93 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and seven strikeouts across 4.2 innings so far. Jansen appears to be settling in with his new team, and the 38-year-old should remain a reliable fantasy option the rest of the way as long as he remains healthy in his 17th MLB campaign.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Secures third save
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Jansen worked around a hit to toss a scoreless inning of relief and earn the save in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Royals.
After securing just one save through the first 13 games of the season, Jansen now has two in Detroit's last four contests. The lack of opportunities overall has limited the veteran to only 3.2 innings so far out of the bullpen, though he's looked sharp in the small sample with a 2.45 ERA, 0.82 WHIP and six strikeouts. The Tigers figure to pick up the pace, and Jansen would stand to benefit as the team's unquestioned closer.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Collects second save
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Jansen struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his second save of the season in a 2-0 win over the Marlins.
The veteran closer continued a solid start to his Detroit tenure. Friday's appearance marked the first time this season that Jansen actually relied on his defense for outs, and through 2.2 innings he's posted a 3.38 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 6:1 K:BB while converting two of three save chances.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Blows save Tuesday
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Jansen blew the save in Tuesday's 7-5 loss to the Diamondbacks, allowing a run on a hit while striking out one in one-third of an inning.
The veteran right-hander was called upon to preserve the Tigers' one-run lead with runners on the corners and two outs in the eighth inning, but he instead served up a three-run homer to rookie Jose Fernandez. Jansen punched out the next batter he faced to end the frame, but the damage was done. The 38-year-old is now 1-for-2 in save chances to begin the year, and Tuesday's outing isn't likely to affect his job security as Detroit's closer, barring additional struggles.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Strikes out side for save
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Jansen struck out three batters in a perfect inning to earn the save in Friday's 5-2 win over the Padres.
The Tigers earned the lead with an eighth-inning rally, and Jansen did his job in the ninth, throwing 10 of 11 pitches for strikes. Jansen did well on a bad Angels team last year, racking up 29 saves while pitching to a 2.59 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 57:19 K:BB over 59 innings. Jansen doesn't have the elite strikeout numbers he used to, but he's still capable of closing, and he should get plenty of opportunities with a Detroit team that will challenge for the top spot in the AL Central. Will Vest and Kyle Finnegan are veteran options to step into the ninth inning if necessary, but Jansen figures to get the majority of the save chances as long as his performance is good.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Named favorite to close by manager
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Tigers manager A.J. Hinch indicated Wednesday on the Tiger Territory podcast that Jansen will open the season as the team's favorite to serve as closer.
Speaking about his high-leverage relief options, Hinch said, "I think they're all going to get saves," before adding that "I think we can pretty much guess how it's gonna go given that one of them has a historic number of saves." The latter comment was in reference to Jansen, who is 24 saves away from 500 for his career. It doesn't mean the 38-year-old will finish the 2026 season as the Tigers' closer, but it's a safe bet Jansen will open the year as Hinch's first choice to handle save opportunities. Will Vest and/or Kyle Finnegan would be next-in-line if Jansen slips up. Jansen's strikeout rate dipped to a career-low 24.4 percent in 2025 with the Angels, but he remained effective, posting a 2.59 ERA and 0.95 WHIP while notching 29 saves.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: POBO won't commit to closer
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Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris stopped short of naming Jansen the team's closer Wednesday, saying that there are "at least three or four closer types" on the roster, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Jansen is 24 saves shy of 500 for his career and has been adamant about reaching that milestone, but it seems he was not promised the closer role in Detroit when he agreed to a one-year, $11 million contract. Harris said that who closes for the Tigers will be up to manager A.J. Hinch. While Jansen remains the favorite to see the bulk of the save opportunities, Kyle Finnegan, Will Vest and Tyler Holton could be in the mix, as well.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Joins Tigers on one-year deal
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Jansen signed a one-year, $11 million contract with the Tigers on Saturday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Jansen's new deal also includes a club option for the 2027 season, per Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. The 38-year-old has yet to show signs of slowing down, as he finished the 2025 campaign with a 2.59 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over 59 innings while collecting 29 saves with the Angels. Now set to spend his 17th MLB season in Detroit, the right-hander will likely begin 2026 as the team's closer, moving Will Vest and Kyle Finnegan into setup roles.
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Angels' Kenley Jansen: Collects 29th save
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Jansen struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning Friday to record his 29th save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Astros.
The veteran closer stuck a dagger in Houston's playoff hopes, firing 16 of 19 pitches for strikes as he fanned Jesus Sanchez, Ramon Urias and Mauricio Dubon. Jansen hasn't blown a save since June 29, converting 14 straight chances since the beginning of July with a 1.19 ERA, 0.59 WHIP and 31:8 K:BB over his last 30.1 innings. Jansen should attract plenty of interest this winter in free agency if he doesn't elect to re-up with the Angels, and he needs only three more saves to pass Hall of Famer Lee Smith for third place on MLB's all-time list.
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Angels' Kenley Jansen: Shuts door for 28th save
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Jansen secured the save Wednesday against the Royals, striking out two in a clean ninth inning.
Jansen posted his 28th save of the season, and he hasn't permitted a single hit over his last nine appearances. Through 59 innings, the veteran right-hander has a 2.64 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 54:19 K:BB while blowing just one save opportunity. Jansen is headed for unrestricted free agency this winter, and he'll soon set his sights toward trying to become only the third member of the illustrious 500-save club along with Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman. Jansen has 475 saves for his career.
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Angels' Kenley Jansen: Notches 27th save
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Jansen struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his 27th save of the season in a 4-3 win over the Twins.
The veteran closer has converted 12 straight save chances since the beginning of July, posting a 1.37 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and 26:7 K:BB in 26.1 innings over that stretch while also adding four wins. Jansen is up to 474 saves for his career, leaving him four behind Hall of Famer Lee Smith for third place on the all-time list.
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Angels' Kenley Jansen: Converts 26th save
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Jansen pitched a perfect inning to earn the save in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Athletics.
Jansen has rebounded well after a rough patch in the middle of August that saw him allow four runs over five innings while going 1-2 with one save from Aug. 12-22. Since then, he's pitched five straight hitless innings with a 2:2 K:BB and earned three saves. He's up to 26-for-27 on save chances this year while maintaining a 2.83 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 50:18 K:BB through 54 innings.
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Angels' Kenley Jansen: Works scoreless ninth
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Jansen worked around a walk in a hitless and scoreless ninth inning in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Royals. He struck out two.
The veteran closer got loose for what was going to be a save chance before the Angels tacked on an additional run with two outs in the top of the ninth. Interim manager Ray Montgomery still turned to Jansen despite it becoming a non-save situation, and Jansen needed 22 pitches to shut the door. Jansen has now worked three of the last four days and will presumably be unavailable for Wednesday's contest.
