The Tigers were baseball’s hottest team for much of the summer. They spent a good chunk of August seemingly preparing for October.
They were baseball’s cautionary tale for the last two weeks, an example of how quickly and strongly fortunes can change and no lead is safe if a team forgets the final steps and slumps hard enough.
Now, all that matters is what’s in front of them.
“We've been carrying a lot with us over the last month-plus, and I think it's been hard,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “I think it's been taxing. I think you're going to see a lot of guys mentally relax and even physically get a reset by the energy that's provided by the postseason. They only let six teams in on each side. I need to remind these guys of that: You have to earn your way here. That type of energy can only be felt in October. Or Sept. 30.”
Though the Tigers clinched their second consecutive postseason berth with a win on Saturday, it’s a challenge to argue they played their way in over the larger stretch run. With two wins in 12 games, the Tigers didn’t just back into the playoffs. They threw it in reverse, stomped on the accelerator and spun donuts in the parking lot, all while forgetting they left a cup of coffee sitting on top of the sunroof.
But all that matters now is that they’re in. Come Tuesday in Cleveland, they’ll have the same 0-0 record as every other postseason team. Their late-season swoon doesn’t matter, same as their MLB-best record at the All-Star break.
“We're a good team. You saw that through the first half of the season,” owner Christopher Ilitch told FanDuel Sports Detroit in the postseason celebration. “We've got guys that, when they play loose and they play to their potential, we're a very good team. Like A.J. alluded, we could get hot at any moment. And the best time to get hot is in October. Here we go.”
There’s plenty of history to show that teams can struggle to the finish line of the regular season and pick up steam once the playoffs begin. Momentum, as Hall of Fame manager Jim Leyland likes to say, is as good as your next day’s pitcher, and that holds true in October.
“There are countless examples of teams that maybe didn't play their best baseball at the end of the regular season, got a fresh start, got a reset, lined up their pitching and got really hot in October,” president of baseball operations Scott Harris said.
Here’s a quick look at what lies ahead for the Tigers and their second straight postseason run:
What could the postseason roster look like?
Catcher (2): Dillon Dingler, Jake Rogers
First base (1): Spencer Torkelson
Second base (1): Gleyber Torres
Shortstop (2): Javier Báez, Trey Sweeney
Third base (2): Colt Keith, Andy Ibáñez
Outfield (4): Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, Parker Meadows, Wenceel Pérez
DH (1): Jahmai Jones
Utility (1): Zach McKinstry
Starting pitchers (3): Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal
Relief pitchers (8): Kyle Finnegan, Tyler Holton, Brant Hurter, Tommy Kahnle, Rafael Montero, Paul Sewald, Brenan Hanifee, Troy Melton
Closer (1): Will Vest
Who will the Tigers face?
The Tigers will face the Guardians in the best-of-three Wild Card Series beginning Tuesday at Progressive Field. It will be their third series in as many weeks.
What time does the game start?
All games in the series are scheduled to start at 1:08 p.m. ET, including Game 2 on Wednesday and a potential Game 3 on Thursday. The exception would be if the other AL Wild Card Series between the Red Sox and Yankees ends in two games, in which case the Tigers and Guardians would play Game 3 at 3:08.
Where can I watch the games?
All games are scheduled to be televised on ESPN. If Game 3 moves to 3:08, it will be broadcast on ABC.
How did the Tigers fare in the regular-season series?
The Tigers went 5-8 against the Guardians in the regular season, including 1-5 over the last two weeks. Facing a team for potentially nine games in the span of 2 1/2 weeks, though, is an entirely different challenge, with very few surprises and a lot of matching up strength against strength.
How will the rotation line up?
By clinching on Saturday, the Tigers can line up Tarik Skubal to pitch in Game 1 on Tuesday instead of pitching him in a must-win scenario in Game 162. From there, the Tigers will likely start Jack Flaherty and Casey Mize, possibly in that order. Flaherty could face the Guardians for a third consecutive start. Mize hasn’t faced Cleveland since Sept. 16, and he pitched 6 1/3 strong innings in Boston on Friday in his final regular-season start.
Which injured players could come back for the playoffs?
Colt Keith will join the Tigers in Cleveland to continue his rehab work, Hinch said, but will not be activated for this series. He could be an option for a Division Series if the Tigers advance. The Tigers have a few other players on the injured list working out in Detroit in hopes of getting healthy for a potential postseason return, including outfielder Matt Vierling and right-hander Reese Olson. None of them are doing live game activity at this point, so the Tigers would likely need a deeper playoff run to get them back. Right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long, currently on the IL after suffering neck stiffness earlier this month, faced hitters on Friday in Triple-A Toledo, where the Tigers have about 15 players working out to stay ready if they’re needed.
Any other potential moves?
Right-handed reliever Brenan Hanifee was spotted at Progressive Field for the workout on Monday and could be called up to join the bullpen, having been optioned to Triple-A Toledo two weeks ago.