His ability to strike out hitters and the dominance of his fastball and slider give him a case for more opportunities, although he still needs to improve his other pitches.

Detroit's president of baseball operations is counting on the organization's growing pitching pipeline to provide relief help. The question is whether those internal options will be ready when the Tigers need them.

Seventeen blown leads after the seventh inning have transformed a potential division leader into a postseason longshot, leaving Detroit’s relief corps as the primary culprit for a sinking season.