In the 21 relief innings that the Detroit Tigers bullpen threw in three games against the Baltimore Orioles, former Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Shelby Miller did not appear on the mound once.

It was a crucial series – the most important series of the season for the up-and-coming Tigers, who won 12 of 15 games to earn a wild card spot. And Miller was nowhere to be found.

With the end in sight, the Tigers called up their most promising pitcher, Jackson Jobe, signaling a change in the roster.

Miller was assigned to make room for Jobe.

“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.”

At 33, Miller had only pitched 4.2 innings in September, but his final appearance was a highlight as he managed to keep all bases full and secure Detroit’s victory over Kansas City.

However, the season also had its challenges for him, as he suffered eight losses and missed seven 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 Tigers signed Miller in the offseason for $3 million, which included a team option for 2025, after he pitched strongly with the Dodgers last year. His success in Los Angeles was due in part to his development of a splitter.

With his 51 appearances, Miller triggered a $100,000 bonus in his contract. In addition, the Tigers must pay him the $250,000 severance package associated with the team option.

News of the roster change shocked the locker room when the team returned to Detroit.

“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.”