Who is the Tigers Closer? Fantasy Baseball Saves Outlook

The Detroit Tigers will enter the 2024 season with some high hopes. They finished second in a weak AL Central division last year and made some improvements along the pitching staff this offseason. Tarik Skubal is finally fully healthy and looking like a true Cy Young candidate, while the additions of veterans like Kenta Maeda and Jack Flaherty were nice pickups.

However, the Tigers are going to need their bullpen to lock things down later in games. Last season, they had plenty of trouble finishing games, which can't happen in 2024.

So, who is the Tigers' current starting closer? Who could take his job in 2024? Let's dive in and find out.

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Who is the Tigers' Starting Closer?

The Tigers' starting closer to open the season will be relief pitcher Alex Lange. Lange was the team's primary closer last year, and that shouldn't change in 2024. However, expect the right-hander to have a shorter leash this season -- if his struggles from 2023 continue.

Lange came out of the gate last year firing on all cylinders. Through his first 24 appearances, he allowed just three runs across 24.1 innings pitched (1.11 ERA) to go with 34 strikeouts and 10 saves. From April to June 3, the 28-year-old was almost untouchable, as opposing hitters were batting just .136 against him.

Dan Petry caught up with Tigers reliever Alex Lange after Lange struck out two in a scoreless inning tonight.#TigersST | @MGLifeOutside @Lange_17 pic.twitter.com/L9hyCuczrq

— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) March 8, 2024

Lange struggled to have much success after that, though. Over the final four months (June 4 to October 1), the right-hander had a 5.18 ERA and just 45 strikeouts over 43 appearances. He also converted just 16 saves, while blowing five opportunities. It wasn't a dominant year for the Tigers closer, but he did finish with a 3.68 ERA and a career-high 26 saves.

Who Could Take His Job in 2024?

For now, Lange is locked in as the Tigers closer. However, that could change if Lange starts the season like he ended the 2023 campaign. There are also several options on this Detroit roster who could step up in his place. Two options that come to mind are Jason Foley and Andrew Chafin.

Last season, Foley converted seven of nine save chances and appeared in 70 games. The right-hander has done a nice job over his three MLB seasons with a 3.16 ERA across 141 games. He has some saves experience, so that could help him land the full-time role if Lange somehow loses it. 

No sleeves, no fear. pic.twitter.com/N2nHtmSwgr

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) May 6, 2023

Another option is Chafin, who signed with the team this offseason. The veteran has never been a primary closer in his career but has seen plenty of save opportunities. He totaled eight last year with the Diamondbacks and three in 2022 with the Tigers. The southpaw is more of a setup man out of the bullpen, so he likely wouldn't see the bulk of save opportunities.

The closing job is Lange's to lose this season. If he does lose it, there's a good chance that Foley and Chafin would share closer duties. 

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