Prior to making the initial roster alterations to recall only Malloy and Lee, the Tigers were rather clear about their plans for their September call-ups: Sawyer Gipson-Long, Chase Lee, and Justyn-Henry Malloy. Detroit would postpone the actual roster change and buy themselves some time to choose who would be benched to make room for Gipson-Long, who was previously confirmed as their likely starter for their Tuesday night game against the Mets.
Fans were forewarned, but they certainly didn’t anticipate it being Lee! In advance of Gipson-Long’s start on Tuesday, the Tigers relegated him back to Triple-A. He was sent down after spending a single day on the roster and failing to pitch. Why? Now, who even knows?
The squad has benefited from the Tigers’ frequent and frequently perplexing roster changes to keep their bullpen carousel turning—the bullpen had an MLB second-best 2.98 ERA in August—but it hasn’t made them any less odd.
If the Tigers weren’t positive they would utilize Gipson-Long on Monday, why didn’t they just call him up instead of Lee in the first place?
Tigers demote Chase Lee after one day (and without playing him) to promote Sawyer Gipson-Long for Tuesday start vs. Mets
Actually, the only person who could be sent down was Lee. The Tigers have very few lefty relievers, and Tyler Holton is also losing his reliability. On Monday, Drew Sommers threw like if he wanted to return to the minor leagues, giving up three earned runs in one inning. Bailey Horn and Brant Hurter, two more lefties, are still a few days away from being allowed to return. The Tigers are hesitant to give up on Tommy Kahnle, Rafael Montero is gradually getting better, Brenan Hanifee has been playing well since being recalled, and Will Vest, Kyle Finnegan, and Troy Melton are locks.
Hinch had more alternatives for Monday’s first game in one of the most difficult series remaining on the Tigers’ schedule because Lee was in the bullpen for just one day. However, they won’t be allowed to call Lee back up until he has spent at least another 15 days in Triple-A. Additionally, it was his fifth option, so the Tigers will have to put him through waivers if they decide to replace him.
At this pace, it wouldn’t be shocking if the Tigers sent Gipson-Long back down after his Tuesday start, regardless of how well he performs. However, we’re no closer to knowing what the Tigers are doing here and why. Regardless of what the Tigers were doing with Lee, at least he will have had a cause for being in the majors.
