Tigers Get Good News on Veteran Bullpen Arm, But Option Rookie With 1.42 ERA
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The Detroit Tigers swept a doubleheader from the hapless Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Thursday, raising their American League-best record to 25-13 — the second-best record in MLB, just a half-game behind the Los Angeles Dodgers at 25-12.
The Rockies are the worst team in baseball, with only six wins in 37 games. But from the Tigers' point of view, winning a doubleheader by a combined score of 21-3 over any team is an accomplishment.
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 08: Pitcher Chase Lee #53 of the Detroit Tigers throws against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning at Coors Field in game one of a double header on May 08,...
DENVER, COLORADO - MAY 08: Pitcher Chase Lee #53 of the Detroit Tigers throws against the Colorado Rockies in the ninth inning at Coors Field in game one of a double header on May 08, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. MoreIt would seem that most everything is going right for Detroit. The Bengals are off to a scorching start following their incredible late-season surge last year that carried them from a sub-.500 record in mid-August into the playoffs.
But the Tigers' situation is about to get better. Injured reliever John Brebbia, who had allowed just one earned run in nine innings before going on the injured list with a triceps strain, is now set to return to the big league club on Friday, according to a report by Evan Woodbury of the Detroit-area news site MLive.
To make room for the righty with the 1.00 ERA, the Tigers optioned 26-year-old rookie right-handed sidearmer Chase Lee to Triple-A Toledo. Lee, in 4 1/3 innings over five games before Thursday's action, had yet to allow a run — giving him an ERA of 0.00.
Lee, who made his major league debut on April 22, got the word that he was headed back to the minors between games of Thursday's doubleheader, after he pitched two innings in the first game and allowed his first big league run, raising his ERA to 1.42.
More MLB: Upset Red Sox Star Unloads on Executive: 'I'm Not Sure What He Has With Me'
Lee has an unusual origin story. In 2019, he made the Alabama baseball team as a walk-on, after previously quitting baseball to study aerospace engineering at the university.
His change of heart to give baseball a second try worked out. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers two years later, in the sixth round. After three years in the minor leagues, Texas traded Lee at last year's trade deadline to the Tigers with another prospect for reliever Andrew Chafin.
Less than one year later, Lee made his major league debut.
The Tigers called up outfielder Brewer Hicklen to take Lee's roster spot, but with Brebbia's anticipated return Friday, Hicklen is expected to be sent back down.
More MLB: Tigers Trade Idea Gets $3 Million Phillies Outfielder For 1.00 ERA Relief Arm
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Memorial in semi-state championship with win over Charlestown
JASPER, Ind. (WEHT) — A late two-run homerun from Cypress Aliotta was the difference in Memorial's 2-0 win over Charlestown. The Tigers are now just two wins away from the state championship. They advance to on Cathedral in the semi-state championship. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
2 hours ago
Ilhee Lee takes 1-shot lead over 4 players into the final round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic
GALLOWAY, N.J. -- Ilhee Lee shot a 3-under 68 on Saturday in the ShopRite LPGA Classic in a round delayed by rain in the afternoon to take a one-stroke lead over four players into the final round. Tied for the first-round lead with Elizabeth Szokol after a 63, Lee rebounded from a double bogey on the par-4 eighth with a closing birdie on the par-5 ninth. The 36-year-old South Korean player had an 11-under 131 total on Seaview's Bay Course. 'Today was totally different day, completely different day, and I knew it was going to be completely different day, so I didn't have any expectations,' Lee said. 'Just like I did yesterday, I was just playing golf. Have fun out there. Made some birdies on first nine. ' She won the 2013 Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic for her lone tour title. 'Now I know how fun this game is, so I'm just enjoying golf,' Lee said. Szokol had a 69 to drop into a tie for second in the 54-hole event with fellow American Jennifer Kupcho (64) and Japanese players Mao Saigo (65) and Ayaka Furue (66). 'Just trying to stay patient all day,' Szokol said. 'Didn't quite have things go as great as yesterday but still playing really good golf.' Kupcho birdied the final two holes in her late afternoon round. 'I think a little bit of improvement to be made tomorrow,' Kupcho said. 'Wasn't hitting the ball super great off the tee, but at least out here it's manageable out of the rough or fairway bunkers. Was just really giving myself opportunities.' Second-ranked Jeeno Thitikul shot her second 68 to get to 6 under, while No. 1 Nelly Korda was 5 under after a 66. 'Very happy with how I played today, the past two days,' Korda said. 'It's a tricky golf courses. Keeps you on your toes all the time.' Maja Stark, the U.S. Women's Open winner last week at Erin Hills, missed the cut with rounds of 70 and 75. Defending champion Linnea Strom also dropped out, shooting 72-75.
American Press
2 hours ago
- American Press
Tigers 'slam' West Virginia in super regional opener
SATURDAY'S GAME — LSU 16, West Virginia 9. SUNDAY'S GAME — 5 p.m. / ESPN2 For all its thrills and chills over the years, LSU had never hit matching grand slams in the NCAA tournament's super regional era. Mark another one off the bucket list as the Tigers used two of them — bases-loaded bombs by Steven Milam and Josh Pearson — to slam West Virginia 16-9 in the Baton Rouge super regional opener. They came in handy as West Virginia actually out-hit LSU 11-8, but the Tigers took advantage of eight walks and five hit batters and scored 11 of their runs on just three big swings of the bat. Derek Curiel's 3-run homer in the fourth inning — the Tigers first hit of the game — gave LSU the lead for good, 3-1, and Steven Milam and Josh Pearson hit their grand slams in the fifth and sixth innings respectively. 'I thought it was a complete performance,' LSU coach Jay Johnson said. 'The hits didn't come the first few innings, but made the pitcher work — that was really important. 'Those free bases helped … set the table … It's like turnovers in football, you want to captilalize on them and we certainly did today.' It left the Tigers (47-15) one win away from reaching the College World Series for the 20th time in school history. The Tigers will likely send their other ace, righthander Anthony Eyanson (10-2, 2.50), to the mound for Sunday's 5 p.m. game. The Mountaineers (44-15) are in a super regional for just the second time and looking for a first-ever trip to Omaha. With LSU's efficient use of eight hits, the Tigers didn't need a vintage performance from ace lefthander Kade Anderson. It hardly mattered that he gave up season highs both with seven runs and nine hits. 'I wasn't commanding the fastball and working off of that as well,' said Anderson, who took a line drive off his forearm in the second inning but said it didn't bother him. 'They put up a couple of good at-bats but I don't think it was them, bit was just me not making the pitchers when I had to.' He pitched seven innings and left with a 16-7 lead that allowed the Tigers to finish the game with the nether regions of the bullpen and not use any of the better arms that might be needed to finish the three-game series. 'Proud of Kate,' Johnson said. 'That was not easy. I think everybody can attest that watching the game wasn't easy. Giving everything he had on ever pitch was awesome. 'The sixth and seventh innings, just getting those two innings checked off without having to use somebody else out of the bullpen becomes very valuable, not just today, in tomorrow's game and the rest of the series. 'We won, he's happy we won. He's ticked off because he gave up some hits and runs. Those are usually your highest performers that have that competitive level.' All 16 LSU runs were scored over the fourth, fifth and six innings. LSU led 10-1 after five innings and 16-5 after six innings. Curiel added a pair of RBI singles to finish with five RBIs on a 3-for-3 day with three runs scored. Chris Stanfield added a late 2-run single. At least one Mountaineer wasn't discouraged. 'They could have beat us 40-0 and tomorrow it's still 0-0 at first pitch,' said DH Sam White, who went 3-for-5 and scored three runs. 'It's a series. We don't have to crawl back like it's a regional and win four more. We just got to win two games.' Johnson certainly isn't assuming anything. But, he said, 'There's something I feel like I learned in the game today that we need to make some movement on to be better prepared for tomorrow. So use that time well.'
