3 pitchers who shined for the Detroit Tigers during the 2024 season

The Detroit Tigers shocked the baseball world with their performance in the second half of the season, overcoming a huge deficit in the standings to reach the playoffs. They earned the second wild card seed and even won a series, defeating the Houston Astros in the Wild Card Round.

One of the main reasons the Tigers were so excited was that their pitching staff provided elite production. Manager AJ Hinch had to get creative to eat up the innings, creating ‘pitching chaos’ as the team had limited starters.

After Jack Flaherty was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers and the team had Reese Olson, Casey Mize and Matt Manning on the injured list, options were limited. Hinch set up Tarik Skubal and Keider Montero as sole starters, mixing and matching otherwise.

As a result, players emerged in unique roles, performing whenever their number was called. Who did the best?

Here are Detroit’s three best pitchers in 2024.

Hinch’s strategy only worked because he had a dominant ace anchoring the team. There haven’t been many pitchers in baseball better than this year’s expected American League Cy Young Award winner.

He should have been the unanimous choice for the award after winning the Triple Crown; he led the league with 18 wins, a 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts. Skubal’s 170 ERA+ and 2.50 FIP were also the best in baseball, as he also earned his first All-Star appearance.

Rumors were circulating that the Tigers had him on the trading block, but they were all best left alone. They should work toward an extension that would keep him in the Motor City more than consider moving him.

One of the players Hinch trusted most with the pitching strategy he used was his left-handed reliever. He was used in all parts of the game, starting nine times and finishing 14 of his 66 regular season appearances.

This is the second year in a row that Holton has been productive for the Tigers, as he is a centerpiece of the bullpen group. This season, his ERA+ of 186 was the best on the team with 94.1 innings, recording the best K/BB among relievers as well.

While Hinch mixed and matched his replacements in the second half of the season, Vest is one player he hasn’t messed with. He was not used as an opener, always coming out of the bullpen and responding when his number was called.

He tied for the team lead in starts with 69 in the regular season, throwing 70.1 innings. In the playoffs, he was the one the Tigers relied on at the end of games and continued success.

Vest pitched six innings, recording nine strikeouts without giving up a walk, giving up just three hits and one run. At his peak, he should be part of the bullpen plans for years to come.