Despite series loss, Tigers' trade deadline acquisitions quickly vindicated strategy

While the Tigers' loss in their series opener against the Phillies was, for the most part, indefensible, their loss in the rubber match finale was more understandable. In the opener, Jack Flaherty provided six innings of one-run ball while the offense (really just Gleyber Torres) gave him three runs of insurance, only for the bullpen to implode and lose the game, 5-4.

But in the finale, the only run newcomer Charlie Morton gave up in his first start as a Tiger was an RBI groundout for Max Kepler; otherwise, he gave Detroit six strong innings. The offense couldn't do much with Phillies starter Cristopher Sánchez absolutely dealing (eight innings, no runs). Tyler Holton did continue to struggle and gave up a solo homer when he wrapped up the game after Morton, but otherwise it was hard to get worked up about that loss.

Three of the Tigers' seven trade deadline acquisitions have pitched since they came to Detroit, but Paul Sewald is on the 60-day IL and Codi Heuer and Randy Dobnak were both sent to Triple-A upon arrival. Rafael Montero is the only one on the 26-man who has yet to take the mound.

Morton, Chris Paddack, and Kyle Finnegan were quick to prove their value, both against the Phillies and in Paddack's first start against the Diamondbacks. Maybe Scott Harris kinda cooked?

Charlie Morton, Chris Paddack, and Kyle Finnegan's first Tigers appearances quickly paid off for front office

Paddack and Morton both gave the Tigers six-inning, one-run outings in their debuts, and Morton's was even his 400th career start, making him only the fourth active pitcher to reach that mark behind Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, and Clayton Kershaw. Neither Paddack nor Morton came to Detroit with exceptional numbers on the season, but Harris might've been right to capitalize on their recent upswings with the Twins and Orioles.

Finnegan got his first Tigers save in their second game against the Phillies, in a ballpark he became very familiar with in his five seasons as a National. The Phils have historically put up very good numbers against Finnegan, but he managed to get through 1 1/3 hitless innings to guarantee a win for Tarik Skubal.

Montero is the true wild card in the crop of deadline acquisitions, but Paddack, Morton, and Finnegan all gave Tigers fans reasons to be concerned too. Their recent histories are still a little troubling, but so far, so good.