Tigers roster move shuffles pitching staff in last ditch effort to prep for playoffs

The Detroit Tigers announced a flurry of roster moves Friday afternoon ahead of their series opener against the Miami Marlins.

Right-handed pitcher Sawyer Gipson-Long, who got lit up for seven runs in 2 1/3 innings in Thursday's start against the New York Yankees, is headed to the 15-day injured list with neck stiffness. The 27-year-old will be eligible for reinstatement from the IL on Sept. 27, one day before the Tigers' final game of the regular season against the Boston Red Sox.

The Tigers activated Jose Urquidy off of the 60-day IL and added him to the 28-man roster in a corresponding move, but it's unclear who will take Gipson-Long's spot in the rotation. To make room for Urquidy on the 40-man roster, Detroit recalled right-hander Beau Brieske from Triple-A Toledo and placed him on the Major League 60-day injured list with a right forearm strain. Brieske's season was essentially over already since he was shut down for 4-6 weeks at the end of August, but this move makes it official.

Tigers activate Jose Urquidy to pitch in MLB for first time since 2023

Whenever Urquidy gets into a game for the Tigers, it will be his first time pitching for the organization. Perhaps more noteworthy, though, is the fact that it will be his first time pitching in a Major League game in almost two years.

Urquidy pitched 405 innings for the Houston Astros from 2019-2023, posting a 3.98 career ERA. He also logged 46 1/3 postseason innings, in which he posted a 4.08 ERA. Injuries sidelined him early in the 2024 campaign before he ultimately underwent Tommy John surgery in June, and Houston placed him on waivers at the end of the season.

After he cleared waivers and elected free agency, Urquidy signed with Detroit on a one-year, $1 million contract with a $4 million club option for 2026. He began a minor league rehab assignment in early August, during which he posted a 3.20 ERA over 19 2/3 innings.

It's highly unlikely that Urquidy will slot into the Tigers' starting rotation, considering he didn’t throw more than three innings in any of his rehab appearances. Gipson-Long's injury, then, drops the rotation from five arms down to four. According to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic, manager AJ Hinch said that Sunday's series finale against the Marlins will be a bullpen game, but it's unclear whether Detroit will stick with a four-man rotation for the rest of the season.