Tigers confirm fans' injury fears with pregame update on bullpen difference-maker

Tigers fans feared the worst when Wednesday's broadcast caught Kyle Finnegan exiting from a warmup in the outfield bullpen mid-game. He threw a pitch, spoke with a trainer, and then descended into the tunnel to go back into the clubhouse.

The Tigers kept fans in suspense throughout Thursday (when they were off) but officially delivered the bad news ahead of their opener against the White Sox on Friday night: Finnegan is going onto the 15-day IL with an adductor strain.

Finnegan has been almost perfect since the Tigers made a trade with the Nationals for him. He's pitched 14 1/3 scoreless innings and only given up three hits and three walks. He appeared to be readying to come in pretty early during Wednesday's game, but it speaks to AJ Hinch's managerial style — never let 'em know your next move.

The Tigers' bullpen — Tommy Kahnle, Will Vest, and Rafael Montero specifically — stepped up after Finnegan was ruled out, and were helped along by a three-run homer from Kerry Carpenter. Although Vest is likely to return to the closer role in a more regular capacity now that Finnegan is officially down for the count, this is a huge blow for the Tigers' bullpen.

Kyle Finnegan officially hits Tigers' IL with an adductor strain after exiting during warmups on Wednesday

As the corresponding move, the Tigers reactivated Parker Meadows after his second long stint on the IL this season. He looked pretty good during his brief rehab stay in Triple-A, but his performance in the majors was flagging when he hit the IL with a quad strain on July 28. The offense is going to need all the help it can get to take some pressure off the relievers.

Finnegan's injury scraps the Finnegan-Vest tandem that the Tigers have been enjoying since the trade deadline. The two have taken alternating turns in the closer role, but Vest was shaken up a little in August when he blew two saves in six opportunities. By contrast, Finnegan was a perfect four-for-four.

Hinch will undoubtedly have more to say after the Tigers' opener against the White Sox, and everyone has to be crossing their fingers and hoping that Finnegan will be available at some point in the postseason (if not the regular season), even if he has to miss a round. Until then, it's time for the rest of the team to step up and get them that far in the first place.