CLEVELAND — Despite not being able to close out a series win in the ALDS in Game 4 at home on Thursday, the Detroit Tigers are feeling relaxed and confident a day before the decisive Game 5 against the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday.
Manager A.J. Hinch said the team has stayed even-keeled throughout the run to make the playoffs and its first six games of the MLB postseason. He expects the same demeanor Saturday at 1:08 p.m. in front of a hostile road crowd with the season on the line.
“I’m so proud of our team and the way we are handling this — the loud music to the vibe that we are bringing tomorrow,” Hinch said. “It’s a great opportunity to be great. Like, everybody remembers these games and it’s a great opportunity. It’s not a burden, there’s no stress, no tension on our side. And we are going to enjoy every moment of this opportunity it’s where we are and where we want to be.”
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The Tigers did not have time to dwell on the back-and-forth 5-4 loss in Game 4 at Comerica Park Thursday, with an arrival in Cleveland on Friday morning. Left fielder Riley Greene said being able to compartmentalize and move on is crucial in October baseball, especially heading into a winner-take-all game.
“There is no room for getting down, it is win or go home at this point,” Greene said. “So, there’s no room for getting down on yourself and getting punched in the face. You always gotta punch right back.”
On Thursday night, first baseman Spencer Torkelson said the team didn’t want anything easy, and Game 5 starter Tarik Skubal agreed a day later. He said the team was embracing the challenge of having to clinch a second playoff series on the road.
“It’s why you play the game,” Skubal said. “For moments like this and for stages like this in this setting too. So I think our guys are going to respond well.”
The Tigers have spent most of the playoffs on the road, outside of the two-game homestand in Games 3 and 4 of the ALDS. They went 3-1 in their road games, sweeping Houston in the AL wild-card round and splitting Games 1 and 2 of the current series with Cleveland.
This will be the first decisive, winner-take-all postseason game for most of these Tigers players, but Hinch has experience in his time with the Houston Astros. He guaranteed something “unpredictable” would happen Saturday as both teams desperately try to advance.
“Everybody knows what’s at stake, there’s no secrets,” Hinch said. “It’s the best brand of baseball that you can get because everybody is all in in every moment, every pitch, every at-bat. Any one person can be the difference in the game.”
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Rubber match for familiar foes
Game 5 will be the 18th meeting between the Guardians and Tigers in 2024. The Guardians took the season series 7-6 and the two teams have been evenly matched in a competitive playoff series.
There are no secrets left for the Tigers or Guardians to spring on each other and will come down to who can make one more play on Saturday.
“We know what we are going to get, they know what they are going to get,” Greene said. “I mean, we’ve seen each other so many times that we know what’s gonna happen. It’s just a matter of, who gets that big hit?”
The Guardians and Tigers have both heavily utilized their bullpens (with Detroit taking it to extremes), turned to key pinch-hit at-bats leading to game-winning hits in Games 2 and 4 and tweaked starting lineups to try to contend with starting pitching.
“I don’t see why tomorrow would be any different,” Hinch said.
Skubal ready for big moment
The Tigers have Skubal going tomorrow and are confident in their left-handed ace to show up again in a big moment.
“He’s going to handle it like the pro that he is and attack the strike zone and attack the hitters,” Hinch said. “He loves competition. He’s into it as much as anybody that I’ve ever put on the mound. And nobody better to give the ball to on the mound in this game than Tarik.”
Skubal has pitched 13 scoreless innings in two starts this postseason, leading to Tigers’ wins in both games. He started Game 2 of the ALDS and threw seven scoreless innings, eventually setting up a dramatic ninth-inning win.
On top of his ability as a pitcher — Skubal won the AL’s pitching Triple Crown this season — Hinch said he lifts the team and instills confidence in the whole roster. It was evident in the Tigers clubhouse Thursday, as every player said they were confident in Skubal pulling out a Game 5 win.
“I know how important every game is to him and I know what it means to send him out to the mound for the confidence in our team,” Hinch said. “He’s going to handle it like a pro.”
Skubal said the respect he’s earned in the clubhouse hasn’t gone unnoticed and is emblematic of the roster’s selfless approach.
“It means a lot coming from them,” Skubal said. “And I think that’s just kind of who we are as a time. We got to battle every single day, we are young, we want it more than anybody so it’ll be a ton of fun.”
Jared Ramsey is a sports reporter for the Detroit Free Press covering the city’s professional teams, the state’s two flagship universities and more. Follow Jared on X @jared_ramsey22, and email him at jramsey@freepress.com.
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