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    • AJ Hinch of the Detroit Tigers explains his decision to DFA Shelby Miller
    Suffolk

    AJ Hinch of the Detroit Tigers explains his decision to DFA Shelby Miller

    Caradoc Wyn Posted on

    Detroit – The Tigers relief pitchers played 21 innings in the three games in Baltimore.

    Shelby Miller didn’t work on any of them.

    The writing was on the wall.

    When the Tigers decided it was an opportune time to bring their system’s most promising pitcher, Jackson Jobe, into the major leagues, the experienced Miller was designated for the position to open up a spot.

    “His usage had gone down,” said manager AJ Hinch, who told Miller the news after the team’s plane landed in Detroit on Sunday night. “I hadn’t used him much. I hadn’t used him once in Baltimore, and the decision hadn’t even been made about what we were going to do (with Jobe) at that point.”

    “It became increasingly clear that (Miller) was falling further and further back in the line. That combination with our desire to get Jackson in the game made him the underdog.”

    Miller, 33, had pitched just 4⅔ innings this month. His last appearance was a dream, loading the bases by getting a crucial double-play ball to help secure a 3-1 win in Kansas City last week.

    However, it was a difficult year for him, as evidenced by the eight lost relievers and seven blown saves.

    “There were a lot of good moments, but also a lot where he struggled,” Hinch said. “But as I told him, it was one or two throws here, one or two throws there, and he got hit by long balls a lot. That was unfortunate for us and unfortunate for him.”

    “Because there were phases in which he made a lot of big outs.”

    The news came as a shock to the clubhouse.

    “Shelby is a great guy and an important part of this locker room,” Matt Vierling said. “He was one of the few experienced players we have. But it is what it is. It’s baseball. That’s how it works.

    “It surprised me and I imagine it surprised everyone else too. But we love Shelby and everything he’s done for us. We just have to keep going and keep going.”

    The Tigers signed Miller this offseason for $3 million with a team option for 2025 after he finished strong last year for the Dodgers. Part of his success with the Dodgers was his development of a splitter.

    The Tigers pushed him to use the splitter more often all year, but he didn’t seem to have the same feel for it or confidence in it. Last year he used it 26% of the time and this year 18.8%, and his opponents scored 100 more points than last year.

    Miller developed a bullet slider in the offseason and that is the second pitch he threw most often.

    He received a $100,000 bonus in his contract for his 51 appearances. The Tigers also have to pay him the $250,000 severance package that came with the team option.

    Miller has played for five different organizations over the past four years and spoke in late August about wanting to put down roots here.

    “I’d love to come back,” he said. “I love it here. I love the guys. I love the city. I’m kind of tired of traveling around and being with a bunch of organizations.”

    “It feels right here.”

    Tough business.

    Congratulations on your anniversary

    On Tuesday, a plate of cookies was waiting for Riley Greene in his locker.

    “It’s my anniversary,” he said.

    It’s been a year since Greene underwent Tommy John surgery, and these cookies were from Duncan Evans, the Tigers’ physical therapist who supported and encouraged Greene throughout his rehab process.

    “I don’t think I would have come back as quickly as I did without Duncan,” Greene said. “He’s incredible.”

    Around the Horn

    In the finale of the series, the Tigers will probably meet an old acquaintance.

    Left-hander Tyler Alexander, who was brought in as a reliever after starting the game in the opener, is now in line to pitch. He’s coming off a strong outing against the Blue Jays, where he threw 4 ⅓ scoreless innings with two hits in a 1-0 win.

    Alexander spent parts of five seasons with the Tigers (2019–23).

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    @cmccosky

    Rays at Tigers

    ▶ First pitch: 6:40 p.m. Wednesday, Comerica Park, Detroit

    ▶ Television/Radio: BSD/97.1

    SCOUTING REPORT

    ▶ RHP Zack Littell (8-9, 3.56), Rays: He’s in top form. In his last three starts, he hasn’t allowed a run and has gone 18 innings with 16 strikeouts and one walk. His 4.9% walk rate is in the top 7th percentile in baseball, and his slider (plus 9 run value) is one of the nastiest. He also has a dead-spin splitter (854 rpm) that he throws with the slider and four-seamer (92.5 mph).

    ▶ RHP Keider Montero (6-6, 4.86), Tigers: Manager AJ Hinch has left open the possibility of using an opener ahead of Montero, although he will rely on him to cover the majority of the innings. Montero will be happy to see a different group of hitters after playing the last two games against the Orioles.

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    Caradoc Wyn
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