The Detroit Tigers just got some clarity on Will Vest’s arm, and it’s a mixed bag. According to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic, Vest has a right elbow stress fracture. The good news for the 31-year-old reliever and the team: they expect him back on the mound at some point this season.
Vest has been roughed up this year, posting a 6.08 ERA across 27 appearances. That’s a far cry from where he’s been. Between 2023 and 2025, he put up ERAs of 2.98, 2.82 and 3.01. So even with the struggles, losing an arm out of the bullpen hurts — especially for a club that’s been banged up all year.
What This Means for Detroit’s Bullpen
The Tigers have dealt with a bunch of injuries this season, and Vest’s situation is just the latest. Stress fractures in the elbow are tricky. They can linger, but the team seems confident he’ll pitch again before the year’s done. The Tigers haven’t given a timeline beyond that. More updates should come after the break.
Vest wasn’t having a great year anyway, but the drop-off has been sharp. From 2023 to 2025 he was a steady arm. This season? Batters have hit him hard and the command hasn’t been there. Still, depth is depth, and the Tigers aren’t exactly drowning in reliable relievers right now.
The Bigger Picture in Detroit
Speaking of the team, the Tigers have actually played better lately after that ugly start. They’re 43-50, which somehow has them 4.5 games back in the AL Central and 3.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. That’s close enough that the front office has to decide: buy, sell, or just kind of stand still?
The big name in trade talks is Tarik Skubal. Teams are calling. The Tigers haven’t tipped their hand yet. But the next couple weeks will tell you a lot about where this franchise thinks it is.
For now, they’re just trying to finish the first half strong. Friday night they open a series against the Phillies in Detroit. First pitch at 6:40 PM EST. And after that, the All-Star break gives everybody — especially the training staff — a minute to breathe.
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