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Finnegan tossed 1.2 scoreless innings and earned a hold in Tuesday's 10-4 win over the Twins. He walked one and struck out three.
Finnegan got the last two batters of the seventh inning and then worked through the eighth for the Tigers. With Kenley Jansen (pelvis) on the IL, Finnegan has gotten some run as Detroit's closer, but he's blown four saves in five chances this year. The Tigers have seemingly turned to Will Vest to end games instead, though Finnegan has been effective overall with a 2.01 ERA across 31.1 innings out of the bullpen this season. The righty also leads the team with nine holds.
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Tigers' Kyle Finnegan: Another blown save
Rotowire
Finnegan was charged with a blown save in Friday's extra-inning loss to the White Sox. He allowed one run on two hits over one inning of work with no walks or strikeouts.
With Kenley Jansen (pelvis) on the IL, Finnegan entered the game in the ninth inning to protect a 2-1 lead, but he couldn't close the door. With two outs, the White Sox forced extra innings when Andrew Benintendi crossed home plate on a sacrifice bunt from Rikuu Nishida thanks to a throwing error by Spencer Torkelson -- a throw that would've ended the game if it hadn't been an error. As a result, Finnegan was charged with a blown save for the fourth time in his last nine outings. He has one save and six holds this season, but his late-inning issues are worrisome -- even if he has a 2.03 ERA in 26 appearances so far. He also has a career-worst 1.58 WHIP.
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Tigers' Kyle Finnegan: Charged with blown save Saturday
Rotowire
Finnegan allowed a solo home run and a walk in an inning of relief in Saturday's 2-1, 10-inning loss to the Blue Jays.
Finnegan came on in the seventh inning with Detroit up 1-0 but promptly served up a game-tying home run to Yohendrick Pinango. That gave Finnegan his third blown save in his last four outings, although none of them have come in the ninth inning. The righty reliever started the year with 11 straight scoreless appearances, and he's got a stellar 1.66 ERA overall, but he has allowed three earned runs over that four-game skid.
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Tigers' Kyle Finnegan: Logs first save
Rotowire
Finnegan earned the save in Thursday's 5-2 win over Atlanta, allowing a hit while striking out one in a scoreless ninth inning.
After Kenley Jansen was charged with a blown save Wednesday, it was Finnegan who got the call in the ninth inning Thursday with the Tigers up by three. The right-hander worked around a one-out single to lock down his first save with Detroit this season. The 34-year-old Finnegan is off to a stellar start this season -- he's allowed just one run through his first 15.2 innings. While the veteran Jansen should have a fairly long leash as the Tigers' primary closer, Finnegan is certainly a name to watch should Jansen's struggles continue.
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Tigers' Kyle Finnegan: Continues scoreless start
Rotowire
After tossing a scoreless inning of relief in Friday's 1-0, 10-inning loss to the Red Sox, Finnegan is now up to nine consecutive scoreless appearances this season.
Finnegan has managed to keep the opposition off the board so far this year, but there are some signs for concern. He only has three strikeouts across nine innings and has walked eight batters, which has contributed to a 1.33 WHIP that is a jump up from the 1.11 WHIP he posted for the Nationals and Tigers last year. Finnegan should remain locked into a key setup role for Detroit, though he'll need to flip the strikeouts and walks around if he wants to sustain his early success.
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Tigers' Kyle Finnegan: Records second hold
Rotowire
Finnegan worked around a walk to toss a scoreless inning of relief and earn a hold in Friday's 2-0 win over the Marlins.
Finnegan worked the eighth inning in front of new Detroit closer Kenley Jansen, and the former continued his unblemished start to the season. Finnegan has strung together six straight scoreless appearances, though he has walked seven batters versus only three strikeouts across 5.1 innings. Finnegan may not record many saves with Jansen around, but he has two holds so far and should remain a consistent contributor in that category.
Finnegan worked around a walk to toss a scoreless inning of relief and earn a hold in Friday's 5-2 win over the Padres. He struck out two.
Finnegan followed starter Framber Valdez, who covered six innings, and reliever Enmanuel De Jesus, who worked the seventh. While Finnegan labored a bit, needing 20 pitches to get out of the eighth, he still managed his first hold of the season in front of new closer Kenley Jansen. Finnegan recorded 24 total regular-season saves pitching for the Nationals and Tigers last year, but it looks like he'll be in a traditional setup role this season now that the veteran Jansen is around.
With Kenley Jansen the favorite to open the season as Detroit's closer, per the Tiger Territory podcast, Finnegan will likely need to settle for a setup role.
Jansen leads all active MLB players and is fourth all time with 476 career saves, so it's not too surprising that manager A.J. Hinch figures to look the veteran's way first. Finnegan had 24 saves last season, with four of those coming with the Tigers after arriving via trade at the summer deadline, but it looks like his 2026 total will be significantly lower, unless Jansen gets hurt or struggles out of the gate. Detroit's 2025 saves leader, Will Vest, also figures to be in the setup mix in the seventh and eighth innings.
Finnegan signed a two-year, $19 million contract with the Tigers on Tuesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.
After turning in a 4.38 ERA and 1.28 WHIP over 39 innings with the Nationals, Finnegan became dominant on the mound once he moved from Washington to Detroit at the trade deadline, posting a 1.50 ERA and 0.72 WHIP with a 23:4 K:BB in 18 regular-season innings with the Tigers. He'll now officially stay put in the Motor City for the 2026 campaign and figures to remain in the mix for saves along with Will Vest.
Finnegan has allowed two runs on three hits and a walk across 1.2 innings since coming off the injured list Friday.
After missing nearly a month due to a right groin strain, Finnegan has made two relief appearances, and he's been scored on each time. In Tuesday's loss to the Guardians, the righty came on in the seventh inning with an inherited runner on first and promptly allowed a double and a single to plate two Cleveland runs. Finnegan logged 12 straight scoreless outings for the Tigers before going down with his injury, so he may simply be dealing with some rust, but he should still see high-leverage work in the last few games of the regular season as Detroit fights for a playoff spot.
Finnegan (groin) is expected to be reinstated from the 15-day injured list Friday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Finnegan said he is "ready to go" for Friday's contest. The 34-year-old right-hander has been on the shelf since the start of September due to a right adductor strain. He'll likely compete with Will Vest for saves during the closing days of the regular season.
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Tigers' Kyle Finnegan: Officially activated
Rotowire
The Tigers reinstated Finnegan (groin) from the injured list Friday.
Finnegan has sat out the entire month of September while dealing with a right groin strain. He made one rehab appearance for Triple-A Toledo on Thursday, striking out one batter and walking another over two-thirds of an inning, and he now has the green light to return to Detroit's bullpen. The 34-year-old righty has pitched 14.1 shutout frames with a 19:3 K:BB since joining the Tigers at the trade deadline and could get save opportunities down the stretch.
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