Detroit Tigers: Beau Brieske’s outlook grim, but could provide upside

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Beau Brieske’s outlook is grim, but the year is not over.

The Detroit Tigers have had a season full of injuries. It was one pitcher after another heading to the Injured List (IL). The Tigers starting rotation must have installed a revolving door with new arms cycling in and out weekly.

One of the arms who rose to the occasion was Beau Brieske. The Detroit Tigers plugged him into the rotation, and he was able to churn out quality starts and be a beneficial addition to the team’s rotation.

However, after the All-Star break, the right-handed pitcher was scratched from one of his starts. After some evaluation, it was determined that he was dealing with bicep tendinitis. He hoped to return during August after taking some time off and working through a throwing program.

However, a little under a month ago, Brieske suffered a setback during a bullpen session. It led to a transfer from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL. Certainly not a move the Tigers enjoyed making.

The Detroit Tigers are hopeful for a Beau Brieske return in 2022.

It’s not entirely out of the question yet. The outlook is grim with Brieske spending more time off the mound and continuing to rest and evaluate as he works to make a return. The positive/hopeful news for Brieske is that he is still slated to get back on the mound in a Tigers uniform in 2022.

Brieske could possibly end up back on the mound and make a few starts at the end of the season. It would be a chance for him to finish out his 2022 season, as he was supposed to be on limited innings. A couple of starts could benefit him to finish the 2022 season on a high note.

After all, he was solid on the mound in 2022. He pitched in 15 games, accumulating 81.2 innings pitched. He managed a 4.19 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP while being a model of efficiency. He was not going to strike out 10 per outing, but he pitched to weak contact and got the job done.

While the chance for a return is exciting, the outlook is a little grim. After all, he’s still on the 60-day IL for the time being and has to go through his rehab steps to get back on the mound. Bicep tendinitis is not Tommy John surgery or flexor tendon surgery, which Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal are recovering from, respectively.

It’s still an issue. Throwing is the cause, and a big league pitcher will undoubtedly be causing stress on this tendon daily. Recovery and rest time will help him get back to normal. However, the grim aspect is that bicep tendinitis is a cumulative trauma disorder.

The more he throws, the more he is putting himself at risk. It’s not to say he will end up with another IL stint right away, but it’s undoubtedly one of those nagging injuries. However, there are positives to focus on for Tigers fans.

Brieske being able to get back on the mound in 2022 would be a step in the right direction. The Tigers have to be hopeful that he will return to the mound and make a couple of starts before the season ends.

Avoiding a “Brieske will miss the remainder of the season” injury update is a victory in itself.