Tigers' Brant Hurter: Optioned before season finale
Rotowire
The Tigers optioned Hurter to the rookie-level Florida Complex League on Sunday.
The transaction was merely procedural, as Hurter wasn't in line to pitch in Sunday's season finale versus the Pirates after tossing 1.2 innings in relief a day earlier. The Tigers reinstated Jack Flaherty (forearm) from the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move. Hurter wrapped up the 2026 season with a 3.06 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 24:15 K:BB in 35.1 innings across 29 appearances.
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Tigers' Jack Flaherty: Closes season with two-inning outing
Rotowire
Flaherty (forearm) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Sunday and struck out one batter while allowing one hit and no walks over two scoreless innings in the Tigers' 4-2 loss to the Pirates in the season finale.
Flaherty, who had been on the shelf since July 21 due to right flexor inflammation, made a pair of rehab appearances with Triple-A Toledo before being cleared to rejoin the Tigers ahead of the season finale. Since he wasn't fully stretched out for a starting role, Flaherty ended up making his first appearance out of the bullpen since the 2023 campaign. The 30-year-old righty is scheduled for unrestricted free agency this winter.
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Tigers' Eduardo Valencia: Homers again in season finale
Rotowire
Valencia went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Pirates.
The 26-year-old backstop along with Kevin McGonigle provided all of Detroit's offense in the regular season finale with a pair of solo home runs, giving Valencia two homers in as many days. The rookie thus wraps up an impressive debut campaign in which he batted .341 with a 1.016 OPS and eight long balls across 42 games. MLB pitchers will certainly make adjustments in how they attack Valencia next year, though he looks like a more-than-capable hitter in the majors who could see his fantasy value climb if his role with the Tigers expands.
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Tigers' Ty Madden: Tosses three scoreless frames in finale
Rotowire
Madden tossed three scoreless innings of relief with three strikeouts in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Pirates.
The Tigers only got 1.1 innings out of starter River Ryan in the regular season finale Sunday, so they needed some length from Madden and two other relievers. The righty bounced back from allowing two runs in his last appearance to wrap up his 2026 campaign on a high note. Madden finishes the year with a 3.26 ERA and 46 strikeouts across 47 innings, and he figures to be in the mix for a bullpen spot with the Tigers once again in 2027.
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Tigers' Kevin McGonigle: Caps first campaign with homer
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McGonigle went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Pirates.
McGonigle finished his stellar rookie campaign with a bang, launching a solo homer in his final at-bat of the year. The 22-year-old concludes the season slashing .278/.376/.430 with 18 home runs, 72 RBI, 97 runs scored and 12 steals across 707 plate appearances and is all but a lock for the American League Rookie of the Year Award.
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Tigers' River Ryan: Chased early in loss
Rotowire
Ryan (0-1) took the loss against the Pirates on Sunday, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 1.1 innings.
Ryan allowed a leadoff homer and struggled overall, throwing just 21 of 39 pitches for strikes with four whiffs. The 28-year-old yielded two earned runs over 4.1 innings in a two-start stint with the Tigers and posted a 4.39 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 47:9 K:BB across 41 Triple-A frames this season. He was a prized asset in the Tarik Skubal trade with the Dodgers and should factor into the Tigers' rotation plans in 2027.
Dingler is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Eduardo Valencia will be rewarded for his walk-off homer Saturday with a start behind the plate in the regular-season finale. Barring an appearance off the bench, Dingler will finish the 2026 campaign with a .243 average, 27 homers, 91 RBI and 72 runs scored across 605 plate appearances.
Tigers' Justin Verlander: Emotional farewell at Comerica
Rotowire
Verlander didn't factor into the decision in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Pirates, allowing two runs on five hits and a walk over 5.1 innings. He struck out six.
In his first start since March 30, and the final outing of his Hall of Fame career, the 43-year-old Verlander showed he still had something left in the tank. He did serve up solo shots to Brandon Lowe and Jacob Gonzalez and left the mound in line for a loss, but the Tigers made sure that didn't happen by rallying in the ninth inning, as Eduardo Valencia walked it off with a homer. When Verlander did get lifted after 91 pitches (57 strikes), it was his daughter who came to the mound instead of manager A.J. Hinch to collect him and lead him into retirement. Verlander finishes his career with 3,560 strikeouts, eighth all time in MLB history.
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Tigers' Jacob Waguespack: Earns win in relief Saturday
Rotowire
Waguespack (2-2) tossed 1.1 scoreless innings of relief to earn the win in Saturday's 4-3 victory over the Pirates. He allowed two hits and struck out two.
In the final start of Justin Verlander's legendary career, it was Waguespack who earned the win out of the bullpen when Eduardo Valencia walked things off with a two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Waguespack has quietly put together a strong season with a 2.49 ERA and 0.91 WHIP across 47 innings, though he's only struck out 35 batters. A lack of overpowering stuff will likely keep the righty in a middle-relief role heading into next year, though he's certainly done well in his first MLB action since 2024 after bouncing around the minors in 2025.
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Tigers' Hao-Yu Lee: Reaches four times in win
Rotowire
Lee went 2-for-3 with two walks, a double and a run scored in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Pirates.
Lee continued his strong recent stretch of a play with another multi-hit performance. Over his last eight games, the rookie infielder is batting .371 with a home run, four runs scored and four RBI. Lee will get one more chance to add to his stats if he's in the lineup Sunday before turning his attention toward 2027. The 23-year-old has shown plenty of promise and figures to be a key part of Detroit's future plans.
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Tigers' Eduardo Valencia: Walks it off Saturday
Rotowire
Valencia went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Pirates.
His one knock was a big one, as Valencia lofted a curveball from Pittsburgh closer Mason Montgomery just over the wall in left field for a walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth inning. It was Valencia's seventh homer in 41 games since making his big-league debut in early July, a stretch in which he's also delivered a stunning .344/.383/.624 slash line. Dillon Dingler is locked in as Detroit's No. 1 catcher, but Valencia has made a strong case to be a regular part of the lineup in 2027, either at DH or behind the plate when Dingler gets a day off.
The Tigers transferred Carpenter (foot) to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Carpenter has already been ruled out from returning this year due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot, so the Tigers will move him to the 60-day IL to create space on the 40-man roster for Justin Verlander (hamstring/hip), who will start Saturday's game.
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Tigers' Andrew Sears: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Tigers optioned Sears to Triple-A Toledo on Saturday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Sears will depart the active roster to make room for Justin Verlander (hamstring/hip), who was activated to start Saturday's contest. Sears posted a 2.16 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 58.1 innings in the minors this season but struggled mightily in the big leagues, allowing 15 earned runs in just 19 frames.
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Tigers' Justin Verlander: Activated ahead of start
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The Tigers reinstated Verlander (hamstring/hip) from the 60-day injured list ahead of his start Saturday against the Pirates, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
After missing the majority of the season due to hamstring and hip issues, Verlander will return from the IL to make what will be the final start of his Hall of Fame career. He never made any rehab appearances in the minors, so his outing Saturday is likely to be brief. Andrew Sears was optioned to the minors to make room for Verlander on the active roster, and Kerry Carpenter (foot) moved to the 60-day IL to free up a 40-man spot.
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Tigers' Gleyber Torres: Idle Saturday
Rotowire
Torres isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against Pittsburgh.
Torres will miss a third straight start Saturday as the Tigers continue to limit his reps before he enters free agency this winter. His absence will allow Eduardo Valencia to serve as the designated hitter while batting fourth.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Strikes out two, secures save
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Jansen struck out two batters in a clean ninth inning to earn the save in Friday's 8-7 win over the Pirates.
Jansen was sharp in this one, sitting the Pirates down on 13 pitches to secure his 22nd save of the year while striking out multiple batters for the first time since Sept. 12. The veteran righty is closing out his season on a positive note, as he's rattled off 12 straight appearances without allowing an earned run. Jansen is on a one-year deal with Detroit with a team option for 2027, so it remains to be seen if he'll be back with the Tigers, though he certainly still seems capable of pitching at a fairly high level even at the age of 38.
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