The Tigers still don’t have River Ryan on the mound, but they finally got a better sense of where things stand.
Ryan, one of the key pieces Detroit landed in the Tarik Skubal trade, was still recovering from a hamstring injury when the deal went through. That left plenty of room for skepticism around the return, especially because the Tigers were looking to stay competitive now and neither Ryan nor Zyhir Hope could help right away. Hope remains in Double-A.
There’s at least some movement with Ryan. On Aug. 14, AJ Hinch told Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic that Ryan had been throwing bullpens and “was looking great,” though the Tigers still hadn’t committed to a timetable or said whether he would pitch this season.
Now there’s a little more clarity. Stavenhagen reported Friday that Ryan is making progress and could be available to pitch in 2026.
He missed time on paternity leave after the birth of his third child, but he’s scheduled to throw a bullpen this weekend and will need a rehab assignment before returning. If everything keeps moving forward, he could make his Tigers debut in the second half of the month.
That timeline matters less for the current standings than it does for what comes next. By the time Detroit gets Ryan back, if it gets him back at all, the Tigers will likely be in games that carry almost no meaning. They’re already close to that point.
Still, Ryan is the most intriguing name in the deal if he can get healthy and stay healthy. Keith Law of The Athletic was especially high on him in January, writing that “if [Ryan] were healthy, he might be the No. 1 pitching prospect in baseball.”
But there’s real caution baked into the profile, too. Ryan turned 28 in August, so the age curve isn’t working in his favor. He’s also already lost time to Tommy John surgery, and another injury only adds to the concern that he may be a pitcher who’s tough to keep on the field.
The Tigers can’t judge the trade just yet, not without seeing Ryan in a Detroit uniform. For now, though, they’re still waiting for the first real chance to prove the gamble was worth it. Fans, understandably, are going to need more than optimism before they buy in.
In Other News...
Tigers Bullpen Questions Just Got Stranger With One Pitcher's Status
Enmanuel De Jesus has already had a winding season with the Tigers, bouncing between option and recall more than once as Detroit tried to sort out its bullpen depth. Then came a brief September twist: he was suspended on Sept. 1 for reasons the club has not explained, a move that would have ruled him out of a normal call-up for the stretch run.
The situation took an even stranger turn the next day, when De Jesus was reactivated and pitched immediately after returning. The Tigers still have not publicly addressed either the suspension or where his status stands now, leaving one more bullpen question hanging over a group that has already spent the season in flux. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Bullpen Gets A Late Boost As One Injury Looms Larger
The Tigers got a late-season bullpen lift when they activated left-hander Brant Hurter off the 60-day injured list and sent left-hander Andrew Sears back to Triple-A Toledo. Hurter has been working his way back since late May because of lumbar spine inflammation, and his return gives Detroit another left-handed option as it tries to steady the relief mix down the stretch.
To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, the club transferred Matt Vierling to the 60-day injured list, a move that underscores how much his injury has altered the picture for 2026 and beyond. Hurter is expected to rejoin the bullpen soon, but the roster shuffle also serves as a reminder that every small gain in the present seems to come with a longer-term cost somewhere else. [Read more 🡒]
Riley Greene Gave The Tigers The Jolt They Desperately Needed
Riley Greene gave Detroit exactly the kind of lift it had been hunting for, turning in a big night at the plate as the Tigers handled Cleveland 6-0. Greene kept the pressure on throughout the game with extra-base damage and steady run production, giving a lineup that has searched for consistency a much-needed spark against a division opponent.
Framber Valdez backed it up with a calm, efficient outing, working seven scoreless innings and keeping the Guardians from ever finding a foothold. The victory nudged Detroit to 65-77 and trimmed a game off the gap in the American League wild-card chase, a small but meaningful step for a club still trying to make late September feel relevant. [Read more 🡒]