Tigers make depressing bullpen shuffle to stop bleeding ahead of Blue Jays series

The Tigers are welcoming the Blue Jays to Comerica for a four game series, still reeling with a sweep at the hands of one of baseball's worst teams. Very little is working for the Tigers right now. Only three hitters are actually hitting (shoutouts to Spencer Torkelson, Matt Vierling, and Gleyber Torres), but defensive and base running mistakes have doomed them in recent games. The rotation aside from Tarik Skubal is stuttering, and the bullpen is getting worn down.

Detroit needs a few external fixes that the trade deadline will hopefully provide, but in the meantime they need to do everything a little better.

But Thursday's roster move probably won't help. They DFA'ed waiver claim Carlos Hernández, who had a 10.13 ERA in 10 2/3 innings, and called up DFA'ed former Yankee Geoff Hartlieb, who left the Bronx with a 40.50 ERA.

Hernández had to go after the Pirates series, when he gave up three earned runs in 1/3 inning, but Hartlieb doesn't look like much of an improvement, to say the least. At best, he's a fresh arm who might be able to take the mound with two outs and get away with minimal damage once or twice.

Tigers DFA Carlos Hernández, call up Geoff Hartlieb after 40.50 ERA stint with Yankees

The horrifying 40.50 ERA comes from just two outings in New York. He pitched a full inning against who else but the Blue Jays and gave up three runs, and then he pitched 1/3 inning against the Mariners — and gave up three runs. The Yankees sent him off in a hurry after that appearance, and the Tigers picked him up on a minor-league deal.

The Tigers are clearly running on fumes at the moment. Tyler Holton has improved a lot since his incredibly worrisome June and Will Vest is excellent as always, but Tommy Kahnle's 18.69 ERA in his last seven appearances is tough to look at and guys like Hernández were never going to get the job done.

Down in the minors, Detroit's depth is shrinking or seeming untrustworthy. Dylan Smith is on the IL, and Tyler Owens has a 5.40 ERA. Even if the Tigers wanted to recall Beau Brieske, who had a fall from grace this season, he's also injured.

Calling up a guy with a 40.00+ ERA definitely feels like a cry for help. The front office had better be putting together some enticing trade packages to present to the Twins and Pirates for Jhoan Duran and/or David Bednar, because guys like Hartlieb aren't going to spell success in the postseason.