The Detroit Tigers have been strong throughout the season, but their roster remains a work in progress. Entering Saturday with a 77-53 record, they hold firm control of the American League Central while battling the Toronto Blue Jays for the top seed in the AL.
With so much at stake, Detroit can’t afford to ease up and must continue fielding its best lineup each day. That urgency prompted a surprising move on Friday, involving veteran utility player Ryan Kreidler and left-handed reliever Drew Sommers.
Tigers Release Ryan Kreidler, Promote Drew Sommers
The Tigers have generally excelled this season at maximizing production from their roster, but Ryan Kreidler was an exception. In 17 games to open the year, he struggled badly, hitting just .105 across 38 plate appearances before being optioned to Triple-A.
Kreidler showed improvement with Toledo, batting .251 with four homers and 37 RBIs, but it wasn’t enough to earn a return to Detroit. Instead, the Tigers designated him for assignment to clear space for left-handed reliever Drew Sommers, who made his MLB debut Friday night against the Kansas City Royals.
Sommers impressed in the minors this year, posting a 4-1 record with a 3.00 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 57 innings across Double-A and Triple-A. Now, he’ll get the chance to bolster Detroit’s bullpen during their playoff push. While Kreidler was DFA’d, the immediate roster move involved optioning Alex Lange to Triple-A to open a spot on the active roster.
“LHP Drew Sommers has been selected from Triple-A Toledo. Sommers, who will wear uniform number 51, joins the first major league roster of his career. RHP Alex Lange was optioned to Triple-A yesterday,” the Tigers PR team announced on X. “To make room for Sommers on the 40-man roster, infielder/outfielder Ryan Kreidler has been designated for assignment.”
Tigers Making Push to Hold onto the No. 1 Seed
Sommers’ first taste of the majors didn’t go quite as planned, as he lasted just a third of an inning, issuing two walks while recording one out. Some jitters are natural in a debut, and with that milestone behind him, he’ll now aim to settle in and become a reliable bullpen piece for Detroit.
Meanwhile, Toronto has been surging over the past couple of weeks, but Detroit has consistently been the top team in the American League this year and has no intention of slowing down. Fresh off a win over the Royals on Friday, the Tigers are pushing for the series victory on Saturday, holding a 2-1 edge in the fifth inning.
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