Detroit Tigers' Joey Wentz, Alex Faedo win bullpen battle; Beau Brieske optioned to Toledo

Four relievers were competing for two bullpen spots.

The Detroit Tigers announced Tuesday morning that left-handed reliever Joey Wentz and right-handed reliever Alex Faedo made the Opening Day roster coming out of spring training, joining six other relievers who will travel to Chicago for Thursday's opener against the White Sox.

Wentz and Faedo received the positive news Monday afternoon.

"It came down to the wire," manager A.J. Hinch told reporters Tuesday in St. Petersburg, Florida. "We like the configuration of the bullpen with three lefties. We like the length in our bullpen going into April, certainly with our schedule. Needless to say, those last decisions are grueling."

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As for the other two relievers, right-hander Beau Brieske was optioned to Triple-A Toledo, whereas right-hander Miguel Díaz will be designated for assignment — if he's not traded — because he doesn't have any minor-league options remaining. If Díaz clears waivers, he can reject the outright assignment to Toledo and become a free agent.

Brieske, though, will join the bullpen in Triple-A Toledo as a multi-inning reliever.

The big-league bullpen competition was intense throughout spring training.

"The decisions aren't up to me," Faedo said after Saturday's game. "I'm rooting for every guy on our team that's in the situation that I'm in, but really trying not to overthink it. Regardless, it's a long season. It's about pitching, getting your good innings, feeling your feels and making your adjustments. It's a long season, so keep progressing regardless of what happens."

MORE ABOUT HIM: Tigers move left-hander Joey Wentz to bullpen at beginning of spring training

Wentz, 26, shifted from starter to reliever at the beginning of spring training because of his roster situation. He doesn't have any minor-league options remaining, which means the Tigers can't send him to Toledo without the risk of losing him in the waiver process. The Tigers targeted the bullpen as his best path to sticking around in the organization, so the Tigers didn't waste time sending him to the bullpen.

He posted a 2.93 ERA with five walks and 19 strikeouts across 15⅓ innings in eight appearances in spring training. He is one of three left-handed relievers in the bullpen, alongside Andrew Chafin and Tyler Holton.

"When you have a good heater, it's easier to pitch," Wentz said after Saturday's game. "It takes a little bit of pressure off my offspeed."

Wentz, a southpaw who has a four-pitch mix and covers multiple innings, showcased an improved fastball in spring games with a higher velocity (94.9 mph, up from 94.3 mph) and more ride (18.2 inches of induced vertical break, up from 15.4 inches).

He raised his arm slot and tweaked his wrist position, and as a result of those adjustments, his fastball returned to its former glory. A bad fastball led to his downfall as a starter last season, when he posted a 6.90 ERA across 105⅔ innings.

"It's feeling great for me right now," Wentz said. "Over spring, I've been trying to maintain the break on the pitch and the intensity. I'm happy that it was able to translate it this far, from catch to bullpen to lives to games. I'm happy with it."

MORE ABOUT HIM: Tigers' Alex Faedo absolutely had to learn new changeup. Will it keep him in MLB?

Faedo, 28, shredded hitters in spring training.

He logged a 1.35 ERA with two walks and 17 strikeouts across 13⅓ innings in seven games. He had an above-average 32.7% strikeout rate in spring training compared to a below-average 22.1% strikeout rate last season, in which he registered a 4.45 ERA across 64⅔ innings.

His strikeouts have increased.

"It's getting into good counts," Hinch said after Saturday's game. "You got to throw strike one, and you got to get to leverage. Those are two of the things he does really well. Strikeouts are a result of pounding the strike zone, getting to two strikes and having some swing-and-miss stuff. It helps to get ahead."

Faedo, who learned a new changeup grip in the offseason, has a better grasp for a third pitch to accompany his fastball and slider. His fastball averaged 94.5 mph in spring training, up from 92.9 mph last season. His slider is by far his best pitch and generates almost all of his whiffs.

His old changeup caused finger issues, both nail and blisters, for several years.

That's why Faedo changed his changeup.

"I feel good about what I've done," Faedo said after Saturday's game. "I feel good about how my body feels. I feel like I'm hitting my stride. I was able to have the offseason that turned into me having a good spring. I feel like I'm trending up."

MORE ABOUT HIM: Tigers' Beau Brieske banking on new breaking ball whatever his role is in 2024

Brieske, 25, burst onto the scene as a potential high-leverage reliever last season after recovering from an ulnar nerve entrapment. He had a 3.60 ERA with 12 walks and 31 strikeouts across 35 innings in 25 relief appearances.

His fastball velocity went from 94.3 mph as a starter in 2022 to 96.7 mph as a reliever in 2023. As a result, his fastball improved and contended with his changeup for being the best pitch in his mix.

His fastball maxed out at 98.9 mph in 2023.

"He's working on his secondary pitches and learning how to utilize that, so he's not a fastball-only guy," Hinch said after Saturday's game.

Brieske, who revamped his breaking ball in the offseason, completed 13⅔ scoreless innings with and nine strikeouts in seven relief appearances in spring training. He gave up just three hits and two walks.

His breaking ball remains a work in progress, but the combination of his fastball and changeup can give hitters trouble. His changeup generated a 32.5% whiff rate last season.

“I want to be 100% clear that I’m always going to root for my teammates, just as much as I’m rooting for myself," Brieske said after Sunday's game, echoing Faedo's words from Saturday. "I just want everyone to do well, so whatever happens, happens. I’m going to go wherever they send me, pitch and try to have fun. I’m not going to get caught up in that. … I’m a competitor. I don’t want to say that I don’t think I belong, because I know I do. We’ll see what happens."

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers' Joey Wentz, Alex Faedo win final bullpen battle