The Tigers optioned Gipson-Long to Triple-A Toledo on Thursday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Gipson-Long tossed two shutout innings out of the bullpen Wednesday, but he'll lose his spot on the active roster while the Tigers bring in a fresh arm in the form of Bailey Horn. Gipson-Long now owns a 4.32 ERA through 25 innings in the majors and could return to Detroit down the stretch for a spot start or to provide more length out of the bullpen.
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Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long: Pulled off rehab assignment
Rotowire
The Tigers returned Gipson-Long from his rehab assignment earlier this week after he reported continued neck stiffness plus general fatigue coming out of his most recent start with Triple-A Toledo on Friday, Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free Press reports.
After dazzling in his first rehab start July 13 with five strikeouts over 4.2 scoreless frames, Gipson-Long struggled during his 77-pitch appearance with Toledo on Friday, allowing seven earned runs on nine hits and two walks in 3.2 innings. Despite the Tigers' decision to pull him off the assignment, Gipson-Long hasn't been shut down from throwing, but he won't resume pitching in games for at least another week. Detroit will want Gipson-Long to build up to around 90 pitches once he resumes his rehab assignment before the team considers activating him from the 15-day injured list and potentially inserting him into the rotation.
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Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long: Stellar in rehab start
Rotowire
Gipson-Long (neck) struck out five and allowed no hits and one walk over 4.2 scoreless innings in a rehab start Sunday with Triple-A Toledo.
Pitching for the first time since landing on the 15-day injured list July 2 due to a neck strain, Gipson-Long showed no ill effects of the injury while needing just 59 pitches to retire 14 batters. The Tigers haven't decided on the next steps for Gipson-Long, and though he isn't fully stretched out yet, the team could be willing to have him bypass another rehab start and return as a bulk reliever when the fifth spot in the rotation comes up following the All-Star break. Keider Montero finished the first half as Detroit's fifth starter but doesn't have a firm grasp on the role.
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Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long: Throws bullpen
Rotowire
Gipson-Long (neck) completed a bullpen session Thursday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
The outing marked Gipson-Long's first time throwing off a mound since being placed on the 15-day injured list July 2 with a neck strain. The 27-year-old will be eligible for activation after the All-Star break, but it's unclear if he'll be ready by then.
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Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long: Following opener Sunday
Rotowire
Gipson-Long is expected to work in relief behind opening pitcher Tyler Holton against the Reds on Sunday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Gipson-Long worked behind an opener in his previous outing Tuesday and gave up one run across 4.2 frames in a no-decision against the Orioles. The right-hander has a 4.32 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 8:1 K:BB through his first two appearances of 2025 after being sidelined for the first two months of the season while recovering from elbow and hip surgeries.
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Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long: Looks sharp Tuesday
Rotowire
Gipson-Long allowed one run on three hits across 4.2 innings of relief in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Orioles. He struck out five.
Gipson-Long was the third Detroit pitcher of the night and ended up filling the bulk role as he set a new season best in innings and earned his first hold of the year. After covering 3.2 innings and tossing 70 pitches in his 2025 debut Wednesday, the righty dipped to 51 pitches but was more efficient and looked sharper in his second appearance. Before last week, Gipson-Long hadn't appeared in an MLB game since 2023 following a lengthy recovery from Tommy John surgery and hip surgery. The 27-year-old is a short-term starting option with Jackson Jobe (elbow) and Reese Olson (finger) on the injured list, but Gibson-Long may settle in as a long reliever when the Tigers are fully healthy. For now, he's penciled in to take the mound again Sunday against the Reds, potentially in a bulk role once more with Brant Hurter as the opener.
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Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long: Awarded another start
Rotowire
Gipson-Long is scheduled to start Tuesday's game in Baltimore, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
The 27-year-old righty could be at risk of a demotion to the bullpen or Triple-A Toledo once the likes of Reese Olson (finger), Jackson Jobe (elbow) and Alex Cobb (hip) return from the injured list, but Gipson-Long will get at least one more turn through the Detroit rotation. In his first big-league start since 2023 following a lengthy recovery from Tommy John surgery and hip surgery, Gipson-Long took a no-decision against the White Sox on Wednesday, covering 3.2 innings and striking out three while allowing three earned runs on five hits and one walk. He tossed 70 pitches in that start but could push up to the 80-to-90 range during his upcoming outing.
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Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long: Struggles in 2025 debut
Rotowire
Gipson-Long didn't factor into the decision Wednesday against the White Sox, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk over 3.2 innings. He struck out three.
Gipson-Long made his first MLB start since 2023 after undergoing Tommy John surgery in April 2024 and a hip operation last July. He worked up to 53 pitches during his rehab assignment and stretched out to 70 pitches Wednesday. Still, there was some lingering rust for Gipson-Long, and he got tagged for three runs. While it's encouraging to see Gipson-Long back in action, fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to stick around the rotation long term, as he'll likely be the first to get bumped from the rotation once Jackson Jobe (elbow) or Reese Olson (finger) returns. Gipson-Long's next start is expected to come early next week against the Orioles.
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Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long: Activated ahead of season debut
Rotowire
The Tigers activated Gipson-Long (elbow/hip) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Gipson-Long is slated to start Wednesday's contest versus the White Sox in what will be his first outing at the major-league level since he had Tommy John surgery in April 2024 and then a hip operation last July. The righty posted a 2.20 ERA and 16:2 K:BB over 16.1 innings on his rehab assignment, tossing 53 pitches in his most recent outing. He'll have a relatively limited workload against the White Sox.
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Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long: Excellent in Triple-A start
Rotowire
Gipson-Long (elbow) struck out five and allowed one earned run on one hit and no walks over 5.1 innings in a rehab start Thursday with Triple-A Toledo.
Gipson-Long needed just 53 pitches to record his 16 outs. Chris McCosky of The Detroit News notes that Gipson-Long could be the next man up to return from the 60-day injured list to rejoin the big-league rotation if a spot opens up. Keider Montero is currently serving as the Tigers' No. 5 starter in place of Reese Olson (finger), who was placed on the IL on May 19 and is likely a week or more away from a return.
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Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long: Rehab moving to Triple-A
Rotowire
Gipson-Long (elbow/hip) will continue his rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo on Saturday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Gipson-Long had been rehabbing with High-A West Michigan, but he'll make his fourth rehab outing with Toledo. The 27-year-old is in the process of being stretched out as he returns from Tommy John surgery and left hip surgery. Gipson-Long threw 46 pitches in his most recent outing and is expected to be activated in early June.
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Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long: Makes third rehab start
Rotowire
Gipson-Long (elbow/hip) struck out three and allowed one earned run on five hits over 2.2 innings Sunday in a rehab start with High-A West Michigan.
Gipson-Long tossed 46 pitches (30 strikes) in the third start of his rehab assignment, which began May 8 with Single-A Lakeland. The right-hander is in the process of building back up after undergoing Tommy John surgery last April and left hip surgery last July, and he should be on track for activation near the end of his 30-day rehab window. Expect Gipson-Long to eventually move his assignment to Triple-A Toledo, though it's unclear if he'll do so for his fourth rehab start, which will likely come this weekend.
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Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long: Moves rehab to High-A
Rotowire
Gipson-Long (elbow/hip) is scheduled to make the second start of his rehab assignment Tuesday with High-A West Michigan, Emily Waldon of Baseball America reports.
Gipson-Long will be moving up a level after he made his first rehab start with Single-A Lakeland last Thursday, when he struck out two over 1.1 scoreless innings while allowing three hits and no walks. The Tigers will have Gipson-Long build up as a starter while he works his way back from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last April and the left hip surgery he had last July. Gipson-Long will likely need most of the 30-day rehab window to get stretched out, and he could optioned to Triple-A Toledo once activated from the 60-day injured list if the Tigers don't have a spot available for him in the big-league rotation.
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Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long: Continues throwing program
Rotowire
Gipson-Long (elbow) is playing catch from 120 feet, three times a week.
Gipson-Long underwent Tommy John surgery in April and then hip surgery in July, both of which he's slowly been working his way back from. The right-hander started four games with Detroit in 2023, producing a 2.70 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 26 strikeouts over 20 innings and he figures to have a role with the Tigers in 2025, once healthy.
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Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long: Throwing program next week
Rotowire
Gipson-Long (elbow) will begin a throwing program next week, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
It will be the first time he's thrown since he had Tommy John surgery in April. Gipson-Long could be an option to pitch for the Tigers around midseason in 2025.
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Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long: Undergoes hip surgery
Rotowire
Gipson-Long (elbow) underwent left hip labral repair surgery Tuesday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Gipson-Long was already done for the season after having Tommy John surgery in April and he now has an additional operation to come back from. The hip surgery shouldn't alter his timeline, although the hurler will likely be out until around midseason in 2025.
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Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long: Getting multiple opinions on elbow
Rotowire
Gipson-Long is receiving multiple medical opinions on his injured right elbow before the next step in his rehab program is decided, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
He was examined by Dr. Tim Griffith in Atlanta last week and Dr. Keith Meister in Texas on Tuesday, and Gipson-Long may get a few more doctors to check out his elbow in the days to come. While receiving multiple consultations on his pitching elbow isn't a promising sign for his long-term outlook, Gipson-Long and the Tigers haven't determined a treatment plan just yet. He initially opened the season on the 15-day injured list with a groin strain, but clearly the elbow is the bigger concern now.
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Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long: Ready for rehab assignment
Rotowire
Gipson-Long (groin) will begin a rehab assignment with Low-A Lakeland on Sunday, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Gipson-Long has dealt with a left groin strain since early on in spring training and is finally ready to test things out in a game setting. While he could be ready for activation from the 15-day injured list in the next week or two, Gipson-Long seems likely to be sent to Triple-A Toledo at that point rather than being added to the big-league roster.
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Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long: Set to throw Tuesday
Rotowire
Gipson-Long (groin) will throw in a simulated game Tuesday in Lakeland, Fla., Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Gipson-Long has been battling a left groin strain he sustained in the first week of spring training. He was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, and he will participate in his first simulated game Tuesday. Gipson-Long made four starts for the Tigers towards the end of the 2023 season, finishing 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 26:8 K:BB over 20 innings.
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Tigers' Sawyer Gipson-Long: Hits IL with groin strain
Rotowire
The Tigers placed Gipson-Long (groin) on the 15-day injured list Thursday.
Gipson-Long didn't pitch during the Grapefruit League while battling a left groin strain, so his move to the IL to begin the regular season was fully expected. After an eye-opening finish to the 2023 campaign over his first four big-league starts with the Tigers, Gipson-Long had been expected to compete for a rotation spot this spring if the groin injury hadn't cropped up. Because of the missed time in addition to the Tigers' other rotation options being in generally good health, Gipson-Long could be optioned to Triple-A Toledo once he completes a minor-league rehab assignment. Per MLB.com, Gipson-Long has resumed facing hitters in live batting practice as of last week, so he shouldn't be far away from reporting to an affiliate for game action.
