The Tigers have only two September roster spots to work with, and that makes the choices pretty straightforward. Detroit needs information as much as it needs bodies right now, especially with 2027 evaluation already in view.
MLB will expand active rosters from 26 to 28 players on Sept. 1, and clubs may carry no more than 14 pitchers. That leaves Detroit room for one pitcher and one position player, even if injuries or other moves alter the picture before then.
The two names that make the most sense are right-hander Beau Brieske and infielder Jace Jung.
Neither move would carry the buzz of a Clark-level promotion, but both would tell the Tigers something they need to know. September can still function as a real test drive, and these two players offer the clearest read on whether they fit into the next version of the roster.
Brieske is trying to get back on track after injuries interrupted his momentum. Detroit sent him to Triple-A Toledo, where he has been working to rediscover the form that once made him one of Hinch’s most versatile arms.
His most recent outing offered a little encouragement. On Aug. 23 against the Iowa Cubs, Brieske worked two scoreless innings and struck out four.
The Tigers already understand what he can do in terms of usage. During his Major League career, Brieske has started, opened games, handled multiple innings and worked in shorter relief stints.
What Detroit still has to figure out is whether he belongs in the 2027 bullpen or whether younger pitchers have moved ahead of him. A September stint would give him time to make that case against big-league hitters.
Jung’s situation is different, but the question is just as important. He is still on the 40-man roster, yet he has not locked down a lasting role in the majors.
Detroit’s infield has become crowded fast. McGonigle, Keith and Lee all need regular reps, while Báez and McKinstry are still taking up roster spots.
That has left Jung in Triple-A, even though the left-handed power remains part of his appeal. He hit his 16th home run for Toledo on July 20 and continued to show offensive upside, but his defense and where he fits on the field have been recurring questions throughout his career.
A call-up would not mean Detroit has to hand him everyday work. Hinch could move him around at third base, first base and designated hitter while getting a better look at how his bat plays against Major League pitching.
The Tigers could certainly go another direction and bring back a healthier veteran or use the spot on a different reliever. Their roster picture could still shift several times before Sept. 1.
But Brieske and Jung are the cleanest evaluations on the board. Detroit already has a good sense of what most of its veteran depth can provide. September should help the club learn whether these two are part of the next competitive roster.
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For the Tigers, the issue lands in a familiar and uncomfortable place: balancing present-day wins against protecting one of the games best arms. For Skubal, the heavier usage has fueled a separate layer of speculation, with some observers wondering whether he is pushing for extra workload as he heads toward the offseason and a potentially lucrative contract situation. However it is framed, his current run has reopened a debate in Detroit that never really went away. [Read more 🡒]