Beau

Brieske

The 26-year-old right-hander had been projected by MLBTradeRumors.com to earn $1.3 million through the arbitration process. Brieske really blossomed in the Tigers’ bullpen in 2024, posting a 3.59 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and a 69/30 K/BB ratio over 67 2/3 innings. He’ll reprise his setup role for the Tigers once again in 2025.

Brieske got the call over Jason Foley after Will Vest worked a scoreless eighth and struck out two of the three batters he faced. He’s made three postseason appearances and pitched hitless ball for 3 1/3 innings.

Jason Foley opened the ninth with a 3-0 lead and gave up a rocket double to Yordan Alvarez and then a pair of rather unlucky hits on grounders, making it a 3-1 game. Jeremy Peña followed with a sac bunt that advanced both runners. With the Tigers wanting strikeouts more than grounders at that point, Brieske replaced Foley. Brieske didn’t actually produce any strikeouts; his outs both came on liners, with a walk in between, but the end result was as hoped.

Brieske operated as the opener for the Tigers on Saturday, tossing two innings against the White Sox. He surrendered a solo homer to Bryan Ramos in the second inning. The 26-year-old right-hander has been a versatile pitcher for Detroit this season, posting a 3.59 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and a 69/30 K/BB ratio across 67 2/3 innings.

The Tigers had Monday off, so everyone was available today after Tarik Skubal got through seven. In a modest surprise, Brieske was the choice to pitch both innings in a 2-0 game. He wound up giving up a homer to Brandon Lowe — on a perfectly good low-and-away changeup that Lowe somehow yanked 363 feet to right — with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but he then struck out Josh Lowe to end the game. Brieske has allowed three runs — one earned — in his last 14 2/3 innings, lowering his ERA to 3.68. He was walked 11 batters in that span, though. Those desperate for saves could consider picking him up for the last few days, but he probably won’t pitch Wednesday.

Brieske was effective working as the opener against the Cubs, tossing two scoreless frames before handing it over to Brant Hurter in the third inning. He allowed one baserunner on a hit and struck out three. The 26-year-old right-hander has posted a 4.24 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and a 52/18 K/BB ratio across 46 2/3 innings.

Brieske has the ability to work multiple innings, but won’t be able to go the necessary five to qualify for a victory even if he does leave with a lead. The 26-year-old right-hander will go a few frames, and it won’t be a surprise if Kenta Maeda received the bulk of the work against his former team.

Brieske came in to pitch the bulk innings for the Reds, and pitched better than the line might suggest. The right-hander gave up a two-run double, but he was sharp outside of that blemish as that was the only hit he allowed in his two-plus frames. He’ll likely work as a bulk hurler again next weekend.

Brieske came into a tie game in the seventh inning, the Tigers took the lead in the eighth and he finished it off for his first win this year. Tigers closer Jason Foley had pitched each of the last two days, but thrown a total of only 30 pitches in those outings. Foley was likely unavailable as Will Vest was the only Tigers reliever warming up in the ninth inning. After saving nine games in March and April combined, Foley has just two saves since the May 1st.

Brieske never deserved to be sent down following his scoreless spring, but the Tigers pen has been quite good and he hadn’t been needed until now. The 26-year-old had a 2.95 ERA in 21 1/3 innings for Toledo. He had a 3.60 ERA in 35 innings for the Tigers last year.