The Detroit Tigers avoided a disastrous outcome after closer Will Vest exited Sunday’s 8-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds with a hand injury.
Vest gave up three earned runs in 0.2 innings of work on Sunday before departing the game with the training staff.
“He said he had this feeling in his pinky. It was bothering him, so we took him out,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said after the game per Evan Woodberry of MLive Media Group.
There were concerns that the high-leverage arm would end up on the injured list, which would’ve dealt a serious blow to the Tigers’ pitching depth that has been bitten hard by the injury bug this season.
However, after a series of tests and an off-day in between, Vest feels good to go, avoiding a costly IL stint.
Vest has been one of the Tigers’ most reliable bullpen arms this season. The right-hander has notched 12 saves, with a 2.57 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 35.0 innings of work.
The team also received more updates on the long list of injuries to their pitching staff. Starting pitcher Jackson Jobe (elbow) underwent successful UCL surgery, Alex Lange (lat) will begin a rehab assignment, Alex Cobb (hip) played catch earlier this week, and Jason Foley (shoulder), and Jose Urquidy (UCL) completed bullpen sessions. Fortunately for Detroit, Vest will not be joining his counterparts on the IL.
Despite the injuries, the Tigers still hold Major League Baseball’s best record at 46-27, comfortably leading the AL Central by 9 games over the second-place Minnesota Twins.
