Jansen pitched a scoreless inning of relief with two strikeouts in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Guardians.
Jansen was reinstated Friday after landing on the injured list in late May due to right pelvic inflammation, and he looked good in his first game action since returning. The veteran reliever had blown four saves and seen his ERA climb to 4.80 before getting shut down, but it's possible he wasn't quite right mechanically. Now that he's had time to rest and recover, Jansen should slot back in as Detroit's closer, and he can still be an effective pitcher at this stage of his long career when healthy, as he demonstrated last season with a 2.59 ERA and 0.95 WHIP across 59 innings with the Angels.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Comes off injured list
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The Tigers reinstated Jansen (pelvis) from the 15-day injured list Friday.
The veteran right-hander landed on the injured list in late May due to right pelvic inflammation, but he's back on the active roster after spending the 15-day minimum on the shelf. Jansen surrendered three runs on two hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning during his lone rehab outing with Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday. Despite having four blown saves and an underwhelming 4.80 ERA through 18 appearances this year, Jansen is expected to serve as Detroit's primary closer now that he's healthy.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Expected back Friday
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Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said Thursday that Jansen (pelvis) remains on track to be activated from the 15-day injured list Friday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Hinch admitted that Jansen was "rusty" during his one and only rehab outing with Triple-A Toledo on Wednesday, yielding three earned runs while recording only two outs. However, the right pelvic inflammation that sent Jansen to the IL last month was not an issue, so the veteran reliever will return Friday in Cleveland when first eligible. Jansen has had an up-and-down 2026 campaign with a 4.80 ERA and four blown saves, but there's a good chance he'll get another opportunity to serve as the Tigers' primary closer.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Struggles in rehab outing
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Jansen (pelvis) retired two batters -- one via strikeout -- and yielded three earned runs on two hits, one walk and a wild pitch during his rehab appearance Wednesday with Triple-A Toledo.
Jansen took the hill for his first game action since May 27, when he exited early in an appearance against the Angels due to a right groin injury, which was relabeled as pelvic inflammation upon his move to the injured list a day later. The right-hander was able to put away the first two batters he faced on just four pitches, but he then allowed the next three hitters to reach base before he was lifted from the contest. Jansen spotted just 12 of his 22 pitches for strikes on the evening, so the Tigers may want to see him show more efficiency in another rehab appearance before bringing him back from the IL.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Slated for rehab outing Tuesday
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Jansen (pelvis) will make a rehab appearance for Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Jansen landed on the 15-day injured list May 28 due to right pelvic inflammation. He's progressed enough in his recovery to embark on a rehab assignment, and if all goes well during his appearance Tuesday, he could be reinstated from the IL as soon as Friday. Prior to being deactivated, Jansen posted a 4.80 ERA and 1.20 WHIP while notching seven saves in 11 attempts across 15 innings.
Jansen (pelvis) is throwing a bullpen session ahead of Friday's game against the Mariners, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Jansen was sent to the 15-day injured list May 28 with pelvic inflammation. The 38-year-old has struggled to a career-worst 4.80 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 19:9 K:BB across 15 innings this season. If he's able to work without setbacks during bullpens and live BP sessions, Jansen could potentially avoid a rehab assignment.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Lands on IL
Rotowire
The Tigers placed Jansen on the 15-day injured list Thursday with pelvic inflammation.
Jansen underwent an MRI after exiting his appearance Wednesday with right groin tightness, and although he hasn't been diagnosed with a strain, the Tigers will send him to the injured list anyway to give him time to recover. Will Vest and Kyle Finnegan are the leading candidates to close games for Detroit while Jansen is sidelined, and Drew Sommers will come up from Triple-A Toledo to round out the big-league bullpen.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Undergoes MRI on injured groin
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Jansen is awaiting results of an MRI on his right groin, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Jansen had to exit an appearance Wednesday against the Angels after his groin tightened up on him. Any sort of strain will likely lead to a stint on the injured list, but more on Jansen's status will be available soon. If Jansen is forced to miss time, the Tigers could turn to Will Vest and/or Kyle Finnegan to fill their closer role.
Jansen was removed from Wednesday's game against the Angels with a right groin injury, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Jansen stayed in the game following an initial mound visit from a trainer, but he was later pulled after walking Mike Trout on four pitches. The Tigers haven't provided any details regarding the severity of Jansen's injury, though the team may know more in the near future.
Jansen (1-3) allowed three runs on a hit and two walks across an inning of work to blow the save and take the loss in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Orioles.
With Baltimore mounting a rally in the bottom of the eighth inning, Jansen was called on with two outs to face Pete Alonso. The veteran reliever got the slugger out on three pitches, but he had a much harder time when he came back out for the ninth. Jansen walked two batters before allowing a walkoff, three-run home run to Colton Cowser in a 5-3 loss. The setback was Jansen's fourth blown save already in 11 opportunities this year, and it raised his ERA from 3.38 to 5.02. Jansen is third all time and leads all active players with 483 career saves, but with Kyle Finnegan pitching much better out of Detroit's bullpen at the moment, the Tigers could consider a change in the closer role.
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Tigers' Kenley Jansen: Records first 2026 win Friday
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Jansen (1-2) pitched a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts and earned the win in Friday's 3-2 victory over the Blue Jays,
Jansen was effective in the top of the ninth inning for the Tigers and then earned the win when the team scored in the bottom of the frame. After a few rough outings at the end of April, the veteran reliever has now strung together four straight scoreless appearances with eight strikeouts to begin May. Jansen appears to be re-establishing himself as a reliable endgame option in Detroit.
Jansen picked up the save in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Royals. He allowed no hits or walks while striking out two over a perfect inning.
Jansen entered with a three-run cushion and made quick work of the Royals, retiring the side in order to secure his seventh save of the season. Sunday marked the 38-year-old's first save since April 22, his first multi-strikeout outing since March 27 and just his second appearance of May. Overall, the right-hander has been up and down in 2026, posting a 4.82 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with a 12:5 K:BB across 9.1 innings.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that Jansen (groin/abdomen) could have pitched, if needed, during Sunday's 7-1 win over the Rangers, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Jansen had been dealing with some right groin/abdomen tightness since Wednesday, but Hinch explained that the right-hander would have been called upon if a save chance was available Sunday. The 38-year-old appears to be healthy heading into Monday's series opener with the Red Sox, and Jansen will look to get back on track against one of his former squads. He's surrendered four runs on three hits -- including two home runs -- and a walk while striking out one over two-thirds of an inning over his last two appearances, both of which resulted in blown saves.
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