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Tigers vs. Astros AL Wild Card Result Game 1: Updates, Highlights, Recap

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Tigers vs. Astros AL Wild Card Result Game 1: Updates, Highlights, Recap

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The Detroit Tigers took care of business in their first playoff appearance in a decade.

The Tigers defeated the Houston Astros with a 3-1 win in Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series, surviving a ninth-inning rally at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday afternoon.

Detroit pulled off a two-out rally with three straight RBI singles to start the second to take the lead while Skubal pitched six scoreless innings on the mound. Skubal withstood tough attacks throughout the Astros' lineup, holding them scoreless on four hits and a walk while recording six strikeouts. Will Vest, Tyler Holton, Jason Foley and Beau Brieske came out of the bullpen and held the Astros to one run.

The Tigers made sure Brieske ended the game in a heartbreaking ninth inning. Foley, the closer who was on a hot streak, started the ninth against the middle of Houston's lineup but allowed three straight hits to give up a run. Brieske took over, got one out, walked a batter to the bases and then got a lineout from Jason Heyward to first. Spencer Torkelson grabbed it from the air and let out a scream, sealing it.

SHAWN WINDSOR: The Detroit Tigers treat their fans to an instant reminder of what heartbreaking playoffs feel like

All three possible wild card series games will take place in Houston because the Astros have the higher seed. The Tigers must play another of two road games in the Tuesday-Thursday series to advance to the ALDS and face the Cleveland Guardians. Detroit has not yet announced a starting pitcher for Game 2 and will likely employ “pitching chaos,” as Hinch said before the series.

Detroit reached the playoffs for the first time in a decade after clinching the final wild-card spot with a 31-17 record since early August. On the other hand, Houston was dominant in the second half and clinched the AL West crown en route to its eighth straight ALCS berth.

TRENDING: The Detroit Tigers now have an MLB playoff win ahead of the ALDS appearance

The Tigers bullpen is doing what it needs too late. Tyler Holton, the ultimate Swiss Army Knife, got Kyle Tucker to move up to third after Will Vest defeated Jason Heyward and Jose Altuve to start in the bottom of the eighth. The Tigers managed a walk, but the Wood stayed quiet for another inning.

The Tigers threatened to break that run early in the seventh, but couldn't strike with the bases loaded. With two outs, Colt Keith drew a walk, followed by a double by Wenceel Perez to put runners at second and third. Spencer Torkelson then batted and drew a walk, but Parker Meadows struck out and couldn't force Houston to pay.

AJ Hinch turned to Will Vest to relieve Tarik Skubal after a great start, and the right-winger harassed Houston, going 1-2-3 to preserve the three-run lead.

Tarik Skubal is working towards a “Big Game Skubal” brand.

The Tigers' ace gave Yordan Diaz hope for his fifth strikeout of the game with a perfect slider to the outside corner, then got Yainer Diaz to chase a high fastball to end the sixth with a runner on first. Skubal threw 88 pitches in six scoreless innings, meaning he could be done for the day. But what a dominant day it was.

Skubal kept playing and delivered another 1-2-3 inning on just five pitches in the fifth inning. The Tigers' pinch hit Colt Keith early in the inning against a right-handed reliever in Hector Neris and he drew a walk, but that was Detroit's only baserunner.

Tarik Skubal had to fight through at the end of the fourth period, but called on Jeremy Peña and Victor Caratini with substitutions. Skubal had to throw 29 pitches in the inning to avoid a single by Yordan Diaz and a walk by Yainer Diaz, with a nine-pitch out by Alex Bregman in between. Skubal gave a distinctive roar after striking down Caratini as he left the hill. Skubal struck out 62 pitches in four innings with four strikeouts, three hits allowed and one walk.

Parkers Meadows had a leadoff single to start the inning, but nothing else happened at the plate for the Tigers.

In the bottom of the third, the Astros put runners on base for the first time, but Skubal caused a Kyle Tucker flyout, leaving Mauricio Dubón and Jose Altuve, who both reached on a single, on base. Andy Ibáñez hit a one-out double to start the inning, but the Tigers couldn't accomplish anything beyond that.

Jake Rogers gave the Tigers their first lead of the postseason with a two-out RBI. Wenceel Pérez hit a fastball the other way to right for the game's first hit, then Spencer Torkelson drew a full count walk before Parker Meadows put a runner on third base and reached on a fielder's choice for a double Play to avoid. With two outs, Rogers slipped a groundball under the glove of Jeremy Peña to beat Pérez. Sweeney set up a fastball up the middle for a single up the middle to score Meadows and move Rogers to third base.

The lineup turned and Vierling followed with another sharp single back to center for the Tigers' third run.

Tarik Skubal had another 1-2-3 inning but was a little scared. He took a ground ball with his glove hand on a comebacker on the mound, throwing off his glove, but remained in the game after a quick check from a trainer. Skubal has 15 pitches with one strikeout in two innings.

The pitchers are off to a solid start.

Justyn Henry-Malloy drew a walk in the second, but Riley Greene hit a double play to end the first. Tarik Skubal retired Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez to five spots.

ANALYSIS: 3 reasons why the Detroit Tigers can win the World Series – and 3 reasons why they can't

Tigers vs. Astros pregame notes

The Tigers went on a magical run that will long be remembered to break the playoff drought. Everything fell into place as the Tigers rose thanks to top-notch pitching, timely hitting and good management from AJ Hinch while the Minnesota Twins faltered.

To build on this run and achieve playoff success, the Tigers will need to prevail against one of the modern MLB giants. The Astros have been one of the final four teams standing for seven straight seasons with four World Series appearances and two rings and still have most of their championship roster intact. They started 2024 slowly, but finished the season 63-40 since June 1, won the AL West and entered October as legitimate World Series contenders.

The matchup in Game 1 should be a pitching duel. Skubal had a 2.39 ERA and Valdez had a 2.91 ERA in the regular season. Additionally, the Tigers won in 21 of Skubal's 31 starts, while the Astros won in 19 of Valdez's 28 starts. Houston's lineup will be at full strength as Yordan Alvarez will be active after missing the final week of the season with a knee sprain, while Jose Altuve, Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman round out the front four of Houston's lineup.

More: Justin Verlander left the Houston Astros' wild-card squad against the Detroit Tigers

What channel is Tigers vs. Astros Game 1 on?

What: Game 1 of the Wild Card Series of the MLB American League Playoffs.

When: 2:32 p.m. Tuesday.

Where: Minute Maid Park in Houston.

TV: ABC.

Live stream: On Fubo (free trial).

Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1) in Detroit (Tigers radio affiliate); nationally on ESPN Radio.

Detroit Tigers lineup

  1. Matt Vierling 3B
  2. Justyn Henry-Malloy DH
  3. Riley Greene LF
  4. Andy Ibanez 2B
  5. Wenceel Perez RF
  6. Spencer Torkelson 1B
  7. Parker Meadows CF
  8. Jake Rogers C
  9. Trey Sweeney SS

Houston Astros lineup

  1. Jose Altuve 2B
  2. Kyle Tucker RF
  3. Yordan Alvarez DH
  4. Alex Bregman 3B
  5. Yainer Diaz C
  6. Jeremy Peña SS
  7. Victor Caratini 1B
  8. Mauricio Dubon LF
  9. Jake Meyers CF

The Tigers decided to cut pitchers Kenta Maeda and Keider Montero from the playoff roster. Here's who made the 26-man roster.

Jake Rogers (C), Dillon Dingler (C), Andy Ibáñez (2B/3B), Colt Keith (2B), Jace Jung (3B), Zach McKinstry (UTIL), Trey Sweeney (SS), Spencer Torkelson (1B), Matt Vierling (3B/OF), Riley Greene (OF), Parker Meadows (CF), Kerry Carpenter (OF/DH), Wenceel Pérez (OF), Justyn-Henry Malloy (DH/OF), Beau Brieske (RHP), Jason Foley (RHP), Sean Guenther (LHP), Brenan Hanifee (RHP), Tyler Holton (LHP), Brant Hurter (LHP), Jackson Jobe (RHP), Ty Madden (RHP), Casey Mize (RHP), Reese Olson (RHP), Tarik Skubal (LHP), Will Vest (RHP).

Tigers 2024 MLB Playoff Schedule

Best-of-three series in the MLB American League Wild Card Round.; *if required.

  • Game 1, Tuesday, October 1: Detroit Tigers at Houston Astros, 2:32 p.m., ABC
  • Game 2, Wednesday, October 2: Detroit Tigers at Houston Astros, 2:32 p.m., ABC
  • ∗Game 3, Thursday, October 3: Detroit Tigers at Houston Astros, 2:32 p.m., ABC

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