The Detroit Tigers bullpen will be without Kyle Finnegan for the final stretch of the season, as the right-hander was placed on the injured list with a right adductor strain.

“It felt tight leading up to the game, and I wanted to see if it would loosen up while I was warming up,” Finnegan said. “I felt it was the smart decision to shut it down and not risk the injury further.”

Despite the setback, Finnegan expects to return before the season ends.

“I expect to throw a few more games in the regular season and be ready for the postseason,” he said.

Since joining Detroit, Finnegan has been a steady presence at the back end of the bullpen. In August, he allowed no earned runs across 14 1/3 innings while striking out 19. His increased reliance on the splitter has generated more swings and misses, a shift credited in part to the guidance of pitching coach Chris Fetter and his staff.

Hinch mentioned that Tommy Kahnle and Rafeal Montero will get the majority of the high leverage situations, depending on the matchup. Kahnle, who has struggled for most of the second half of the season, has seem to straight things out a bit as of late. He has not allowed an earned run over his last six appearances. 

Montero has also better since he arrived from Atlanta. Over his last 8.2 innings of work, he has not allowed a run, and has struck out 10. Paul Sewald, who threw at West Michigan a few days ago, will be throwing again for West Michigan this week, Hinch said. José Urquidy will also see some innings for Toledo on Saturday in Leigh Valley as he continues to eye a return soon to the Tigers rotation.

Left-hander Brant Hurter, who hasn’t pitched since being sent down to Toledo on August 15th, will start his rehab assignment as the Mud Hens continue their road trip in Leigh Valley. 

Parker Meadows was in Comerica Park on Friday, doing drills as he is set to return to the Tigers outfield. He was on the IL due to a right quad strain. Meadows appeared to be figuring things out in Toledo, going 6-for-23 during his rehab stint.

Detroit is hoping to have the same Parker who, in the second half of the 2024 season, hit .296/.340/.340 and was a plus defender in centerfield, posting an outs above average of 7. When he was in the lineup last year, the Tigers were 54-28. Without him, 17-21. 

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