The Detroit Tigers made a surprising move at the July 30 trade deadline, opting to sell rather than buy. Fast forward to September 6, and they found themselves at a .500 record, sitting 10 games back in the playoff race as of August 10. Yet, against all odds, they clinched a playoff spot on the final weekend of the regular season.
Now, just two games into the postseason, they’re headed to the next round after a stunning upset.
On Wednesday, the Tigers defeated the Houston Astros 5-2, sweeping the favored team out of their own ballpark. This marks a significant milestone, as the Astros had advanced to the American League Championship Series for seven consecutive years. The 2024 ALCS will feature its first new contenders since 2016.
Detroit showcased impressive pitching, starting with ace Tarik Skubal who led them to a 3-1 victory in Game 1 at Minute Maid Park. In Game 2, the Tigers used a bullpen approach, cycling through seven pitchers to earn their win.
The only home run in the two-game series came from Parker Meadows, who broke the scoreless tie in the sixth inning. Unfortunately for the Astros, they briefly took a 2-1 lead in the seventh following an error from Tigers catcher Jake Rogers, but Detroit responded fiercely.
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During the eighth inning, the Tigers exploded with four runs, starting with a wild pitch from Ryan Pressly that allowed Kerry Carpenter to score. After Pressly hit Colt Keith with a walk, closer Josh Hader stepped in but also walked Spencer Torkelson. The pivotal moment came when Andy Ibañez delivered a pinch-hit, bases-clearing double, giving Detroit a commanding 5-2 lead.
Sean Guenther and Will Vest then sealed the win with scoreless outings in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively.
Next up for the Tigers is a best-of-five AL Division Series against Cleveland beginning Saturday. The sweep means they can rest their pitchers, setting up Skubal for Game 2 and potentially Game 5 on regular rest.
This victory is especially sweet for Detroit’s manager A.J. Hinch, who was dismissed by the Astros in the wake of their notorious cheating scandal that marred their 2017 World Series triumph.