Tigers Bullpen Putting up Astonishingly Bad Numbers in Late Innings

The Tigers might miss the playoffs because their bullpen has been abysmal in late game situations.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenley Jansen. Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Detroit Tigers find themselves finishing off their weekend by traveling to Kauffman Stadium to play the Kansas City Royals, their American League Central division rivals. And it is a huge series and this series could hinge on one major factor.

The Tigers bullpen has been noticeable all-season long and not in a good way. Per Evan Woodbury of MLive.com, The Tigers have statistically one of the worst bullpens in baseball in the 7th inning or later this season. It is impossible to be that bad in late-game scenarios, but manager AJ Hinch's squad has done the impossible.

And the Tigers look like a team that as of the current moment might not make the postseason come October and their bullpen especially in those scenarios, is going to play a huge factor. They have blown a lot of saves and a lot of close leads and only have themselves to blame.

The Tigers bullpen being as bad as they are is Scott Harris' fault

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Kyle Finnegan. Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Every Tigers fan knew once they had a bad stretch against the Baltimore Orioles, that they were going to end up selling at the deadline. They knew that Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize were as good as gone.

But that does not mean that president of baseball operations Scott Harris could not have done anything about the bullpen and tried to upgrade it. Harris could have made calls to teams and asked what it would take to acquire some bullpen arms that were out there on the market.

But Harris decided to leave his bullpen as is when he knew he needed to try to find upgrades since Kenley Jansen and Kyle Finnegan have had a rough go of it this season. The veterans have not had their greatest seasons to date and it shows with where the Tigers record is and where they are in the playoff standings.

And every Tigers fan knows that if their team misses the playoffs, it is going to be because their biggest weakness was not addressed. The team has needed bullpen upgrades since the very beginning of the season and Harris chose to sit on his hands.

It could even be an idea thrown out there that Harris deserves to be fired after his team was one win away from the ALCS last season to completely likely missing the playoffs this season. Tigers fans deserve a consistently good team and Harris sitting on his hands with his bullpen was an abysmal move.