CHICAGO – Among the multitude of things that went off script this season for the Tigers, Kenley Jansen, the game’s active saves leader, being part of a bullpen that has the second-most blown saves in baseball (32) is certainly high on the list.

“Terrible year,” Jansen has said on more than one occasion over these last six months.

By his standards, it’s been a puzzle, for sure. But maybe he’s been more snakebitten than terrible, overall. The hard-hit rate against him is a low 36.4%. The expected batting average (.199) and expected slugging percentage (.367) are in line with his career norms.

His signature cutter, while not as consistently sharp as it’s been, still carries a plus-5 run value, per Statcast and is holding hitters to a .176 batting average. His slider has been a vastly improved pitch, going from a minus-3 run value to a plus-3, holding hitters to a .100 average (2 for 20 with no extra base hits).

None of that is terrible. But his 13% walk rate is a career-high. He’s given up two walk-off homers on mislocated sinkers and five homers off his cutter. And, as is always the case with closers, just about every mistake flips the game.

So, with nine games left, Jansen has saved 20 games out of 26 opportunities, way below what was projected. His career saves total sits at 496 and with each passing game, each Tigers’ loss, his hope of reaching that magical 500-save milestone this season feels more remote.

“I don’t even want to think about it,” he said. “I can’t control the outcome.”

One of the defining traits of this Tigers’ season is their inability to win close games. It’s not just about the saves, though having more blown saves (32) than earning them (30) is damning. But a lot of games are flipped before the final couple of innings. The Tigers have lost 44 games in which they led at one point. They are 21-48 in games decided by two runs or less.

That’s how a team can have the fourth-best run differential in the American League (plus-74) and be on the verge of elimination from playoff contention, one loss away from securing its first losing season in three years.

And that’s not all on the back-end relievers.

But all of it has conspired to stall Jansen’s bid to become just the third pitcher in history to reach 500 saves, joining Hall-of-Famers Mariano Rivera (652) and Trevor Hoffman (601) in that exclusive club.

“This is two years now that I already thought I’d get there,” Jansen said. “But I never have the chance. Since 2022, I haven’t had a 30-save season. The opportunities have been down.”

Since 2022, he’s had 33, 31 and 30 save opportunities. This year, the 26 opportunities have come in 47 games, the fewest appearances he’s made in any full season.

“It is what it is,” he said. “If it happens, it happens. If not, we will try to get it next year.”

Be nice to see him do it in a Tigers’ uniform, though.

“Well,” he said, laughing. “Talk to them about picking up my option. If not, I will get it somewhere else.”

The Tigers hold a $12 million option on the 38-year-old Jansen for 2027. It will cost them $2 million to buy him out. The math probably isn’t in his favor as far as the Tigers picking up that option.

In the meantime, there’s nine games left. Nothing is impossible, or so we’re told.

“I think it will get to me when I am at 499 and I get the call and I’m about to go in,” Jansen said. “That’s when I’ll feel it.”

Tigers at White Sox

First pitch: 7:10 p.m. Saturday, Rate Field, Chicago

TV/radio: Detroit Sports Net/97.1 FM

Scouting report

RHP Jackson Jobe (2-2, 3.89), Tigers: He is coming off a career-best 6.1-inning, eight-strikeout win against the Rockies, beating a lineup of nine left-handed hitters. He was locating his four-seamer and sinker expertly which allowed him to get 11 whiffs on 17 swings with his slider and curveball.

RHP Sean Burke (9-7, 3.47), White Sox: This will be the Tigers’ third crack at him. He limited them to one run in 5.1 innings in May, but the Tigers nicked him for four runs in 4.1 innings at Comerica Park in August. His forte is his fastball. He’s 6-6, throws it downhill at 94-95 mph with 6-8 arm extension and 2,500-rpm spin rate. Opponents hit .181 against it. He mixes sinkers, knuckle-curves and sliders, throwing cutters and changeups to lefties.

Chris.McCosky@detroitnews.com

@cmccosky

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Tigers reliever Kenley Jansen’s quest for 500 saves is running out of games

Reporting by Chris McCosky, The Detroit News / The Detroit News

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