Tommy

Kahnle

Finnegan has been great for the Tigers, striking out 19 in 14 1/3 scoreless innings, so this is a significant loss. Will Vest figures to get most of Detroit’s save chances while Finnegan rests. Tommy Kahnle, who seems to have bounced back lately with his six consecutive scoreless appearances, also figures to have a bigger role at the end of games.

So far, so good. Finnegan has converted on each of his first two save chances with the Tigers. Will Vest didn’t pitch Monday and Tommy Kahnle merely got a couple outs in the eighth inning. Vest, though, was previously used before the ninth inning multiple times since the team acquired Finnegan. All signs currently point to Finnegan at least being the favorite for saves and potentially even being used as a traditional closer by A.J. Hinch.

Kahnle came on with the Tigers and Rangers locked in a scoreless battle in the bottom of the eighth inning. He proceeded to allow a double to Kyle Higashioka a walk to Josh Smith and then a two-run double to Corey Seager that proved to be the difference in the ballgame. After posting a 1.77 ERA through June, Kahnle has now allowed 14 runs over his last 3 1/3 innings of work, causing that ERA to balloon to 4.85.

Will Vest appeared to be unavailable tonight after throwing 32 pitches the previous two days. Pitching in a 1-0 game, Kahnle walked a batter with two outs, but he retired the other three guys he faced. He’ll likely get to rest Sunday after working back-to-back days, but West should be back if there’s a save chance.

Single, walk, single, triple, double. That’s how it went against Kahnle on a rare off night that took his ERA from 1.77 to 3.03. At least the one good thing here is that we know he wasn’t tipping his pitch.

“I’m expecting to have him available in some capacity and not go on the injured list,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said on MLB Network Radio. “Things can always change if we get more information. But so far, so good.” If Vest does wind up experiencing a setback, Tommy Kahnle would be in line for more save chances.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters Vest was immediately lifted from Sunday’s contest when he experienced something in his pinky finger after uncorking a wild pitch. He added that the 30-year-old righty will undergo a battery of tests to determine the severity of the issue. There should be an update on his status ahead of Tuesday’s series opener against the Pirates. It’s unclear whether he’ll require a trip to the injured list yet. Any sort of extended absence would likely result in Tommy Kahnle taking over the ninth-inning duties for Detroit.

It was Kahnle rather than Will Vest who came on to get this save. Yet, that’s likely because Vest came into this game in the seventh inning to face the top of the White Sox lineup and stayed on to pitch the eighth. He struck out three without allowing a base runner before Kahnle shut the door. In classic Kahnle fashion, he threw seven pitches and they were all changeups. Vest seems to still be first in line for saves in Detroit with Kahnle mixing in when the moment is right.

Will Vest was unavailable after throwing the previous two days. When Kahnle came in for the eighth, we were left trying to guess who would wind up closing it out for the Tigers. Kahnle for two, though, was obviously the plan all along, and he got six outs for the second time this season while throwing only 17 pitches, 15 of them strikes. It’s his seventh save.

Tigers’ manger A.J. Hinch called upon Will Vest to face the heart of the Cardinals’ lineup with the score tied in the eighth inning, leaving Kahnle to handle the ninth after the Tigers scored in the top half of the frame. Kahnle needed just 12 pitches (eight strikes) to retire the Cardinals in order — getting Victor Scott II on strikes, Lars Nootbaar on a fly ball to center and Masyn Winn on a fly out to left to end it. He has been spectacular for the Tigers this season, registering a 1.37 ERA, 0.81 WHIP and a 20/6 K/BB ratio over 19 2/3 innings to go with his six saves.