Detroit Tigers right-handed reliever Beau Brieske was reinstated from the 15-day injured list before Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels.
In a corresponding move, rookie right-hander Tyler Owens was optioned to Triple-A Toledo.
Brieske spent exactly 15 days on the IL, returning on his first day of eligibility. He aggravated a lingering ankle issue on April 11 in Minnesota when he slipped coming off the mound while covering first base. The Tigers placed him on the IL six days later when the ankle continued to bother him.
Brieske has allowed seven earned runs on 10 hits in 7 1/3 innings this season, though most of the damage came in a single outing against the Dodgers during the season’s opening series.
The 27-year-old played a key role during the Tigers’ late-season playoff push in 2024 and appeared in several of the club’s biggest postseason moments. A 27th-round pick in 2019, Brieske made 15 starts for the Tigers in 2022 before transitioning to a bullpen role in 2023.
Owens, 24, made his big-league debut two days ago when he was recalled to take the spot of DFA’d veteran Kenta Maeda.
He pitched the scoreless final inning in both of the Tigers’ comeback wins this week in Anaheim, making a strong first impression
Owens, 24, was acquired from the Texas Rangers in the Carson Kelly deal a few days before the 2024 trade deadline. He was added to the 40-man roster this winter.
Owens was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 13th round in 2019 and traded to the Rangers before the 2024 season. He had a 2.96 ERA in 51 2/3 innings in 2024, walking 16 and striking out 55 with a fastball-slider mix.
In 12 appearances this season with the Mud Hens, Owens has a 4.50 in 14 innings with nine walks and 11 strikeouts.
The Tigers may make another bullpen move soon. Veteran John Brebbia is making a rehab appearance with Toledo on Saturday and could be activated as soon as Tuesday, when the Tigers open a series in Denver against the Colorado Rockies.
TIGERS’ 40-MAN ROSTER (39)
Left-handed pitchers (5): Sean Guenther, Tyler Holton, Bailey Horn, Brant Hurter, Tarik Skubal.
Right-handed pitchers (16): John Brebbia*, Beau Brieske, Alex Cobb*, Jack Flaherty, Jason Foley**, Brenan Hanifee, Jackson Jobe, Tommy Kahnle, Chase Lee, Matt Manning, Tyler Mattison**, Casey Mize, Keider Montero, Reese Olson, Tyler Owens, Will Vest.
Catchers (3): Dillon Dingler, Tomás Nido, Jake Rogers*.
Infielders (8): Javier Báez, Jace Jung, Andy Ibáñez, Colt Keith, Zach McKinstry, Trey Sweeney, Spencer Torkelson, Gleyber Torres.
Outfielders (7): Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, Brewer Hicklen, Ryan Kreidler, Justyn-Henry Malloy, Manuel Margot*, Matt Vierling*.
*On 10-day or 15-day injured list
**On minor-league injured list
Right-handed pitchers Alex Lange (right lat strain and surgery), Sawyer Gipson-Long (Tommy John surgery and hip), José Urquidy (Tommy John surgery) and Ty Madden (rotator cuff strain); and outfielders Parker Meadows (right upper arm inflammation) and Wenceel Pérez (lower back inflammation) are on the 60-day injured list and do not count against the 40-man roster.
