Who Is The Tigers' Closer? Fantasy Baseball Saves Outlooks

Looking at the Detroit Tigers' depth chart for 2024, the bullpen can seem overwhelming. Unlike prior years, there is closer experience and strong pitching overall amongst the Detroit bullpen arms, mixed in with early-career guys who have shown flashes of brilliance.

Andrew Chafin has previous closing experience, particularly during his time with the Diamondbacks. Shelby Miller has extensive experience as both a starter and a reliever. These guys provide some veteran stability for the Tigers.

On the other hand, Alex Lange, Jason Foley, and Alex Faedo all have shown solid potential in their relatively limited time in the MLB. Given his experience as a starter and two-inning outing already under his belt this year, Miller seems least likely to accrue saves in 2024, but the remaining names all merit further discussion and monitoring throughout the year for those chasing saves.

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2024 Data Points

Not even a week into the 2024 season, it can be difficult to draw conclusions about any one player, let alone a bullpen with three to four options for closing. As an example, the Milwaukee Brewers seem to be favoring Abner Uribe, but Joel Payamps has also logged a save. Was this to spell Uribe from pitching three days straight or is Payamps a true saves candidate long-term?

So far, the situation in Detroit seems relatively straightforward compared to at least a third of the league where the "closer" label is non-existent. Jason Foley has been lights-out in his two outings, capturing two saves in his two save opportunities, and he has not given up a hit or a walk in that time, noting the small sample size. But in that small sample, Foley struck out the likes of Yoan Moncada and Luis Robert along with a groundout from Andrew Vaughn, all solid hitters.

Alex Lange had the most hype coming into 2024 and deserves his own discussion. Lange has faced four batters in 2024, walking three of them and striking out one. He also has already logged a wild pitch. Lange's control is a significant concern at this point. If/when that improves, this may be more of a competition, but poor control is arguably the worst problem a potential closer can have. For that reason, Lange will likely occupy the seventh or eighth inning for the time being.

The Other Guys

While some of the names mentioned up top have the ability to perform as a closer, there are other factors to consider that further support Foley as the definitive closer at this time.

Joey Wentz and Tyler Holton are two lefties in the Tigers 'pen, but Chafin has much more experience (and possibly ability) than either of those guys. Anticipate Chafin being the main lefty specialist in the Detroit bullpen. There is an off chance he snags a save here and there if an opposing team has two or three lefties coming up in the ninth inning. Other than that, Chafin is unlikely to be the closer.

In what essentially amounted to a reverse-bullpen game with Kenta Maeda having a mini-blowup in 3.1 IP, Alex Faedo followed him for the fourth and fifth innings. This, coupled with the fact that Faedo was not a lock to make the Opening Day roster, makes it unlikely he will see time as the closer, or even setup man, barring injury.

Verdict

The limited data to this point strongly points towards Foley as a "traditional" closer for the Detroit Tigers. If somehow Foley is available on the waiver wire, pick him up immediately. He is a solid trade target for those looking for saves. In points leagues and categories leagues with holds, Alex Lange and Andrew Chafin may hold value, but so long as Foley continues to perform, the early data suggests it is his closer role to lose.

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