Detroit Tigers pitcher Reese Olson has been sidelined since July 24 with a right shoulder strain, but has received some good news about the possibility of his return to baseball action. Although he has already been officially ruled out for the rest of the regular season, his rehab is progressing well, to the point where if the Tigers can advance to the ALCS, he may be able to take the mound in a limited bullpen role.
Olson began throwing again this week, beginning a process that requires at least four weeks to get him back into game shape. Four weeks from today, Sept. 8 is Oct. 6 which would be right in the middle of the ALDS.
“Everyone here thinks that we’re going to make a deep run, and we know we can,” Olson said. “So I’m doing everything I can to give myself the best chance to play again this year.”
Olson was on pace to record his best season this year in the third season of his MLB career. The 26-year-old had posted a 4-4 record with an ERA of 3.15 in 13 starts before his mid-summer injury. He had 65 strikeouts in 68.2 innings pitched while walking 25 and allowing five home runs.
Pitching is a Real Concern for Detroit Heading Into Postseason
The Tigers have bonafide stud at the top of their rotation in Tarik Skubal, but below him on the depth chart has been a trash heap of guys who have not performed even close to their full capabilities.
Since Olson’s injury, the Tigers rotation behind Skubal has consisted of Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize, Charlie Morton and Chris Paddack, who have all been below average, to put it kindly.
Skubal: 2.08
Flaherty: 5.28 Mize: 5.59 Paddack: 6.89 Morton: 5.81
Flaherty and Mize have both shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season, but those flashes have been few and far between lately.
Flaherty had a brutal month of August, posting a record of 1-3 with a 5.51 ERA.
Morton, who was supposed to be a veteran arm to solidify the bottom slot in the rotation hasn’t been able to provide any stability for Detroit. In seven starts with the Tigers since he was acquired from Baltimore, Morton has posted an ERA of 6.09 in 34 innings pitched, not nearly good enough for this Detroit team that has World Series aspirations.
Olson Could Provide Stability in Bullpen for Detroit
Olson, if able to return in the postseason, would be a great long-relief option in the bullpen. Though his pitch count will undoubtedly be limited, his stuff is plenty good enough to be effective in high leverage situations, especially considering how long it’s been since any team they could be playing has seen him throw live.
The Tigers bullpen, though inconsistent, has been more effective than the rotation all season. Will Vest and Kyle Finnegan have been incredibly efficient in the back end of the pen, but the front end is where the inconsistency has come from. Olson’s potential insertion into that unit could really stabilize the entire pitching staff.
Whether he’ll be able to recover in time is the only question left to answer.
Tigers Pitcher Reese Olson Opens Up on Hopes for Pitching in Postseason