It’s been quite a long road for AJ Hinch. From being let go as part of the infamous Houston Astros scandal to leading the Detroit Tigers back to the playoffs for the first time in a decade, Hinch has led plenty of great baseball teams in his time.

The Tigers finished the regular season 86-76 and earned the third wild card berth in the AL. They finished as one of the hottest teams in baseball. After selling off nearly half of a dozen players at the trade deadline, the Tigers finished the season on a 31-13 run, eliminating a 10-game deficit.

Hinch had to navigate having one of the youngest rosters in baseball and did so quite well, considering that red-hot run.

Year over year, Hinch improved the Tigers. In 2023, 28 finished with bWAR over 0.0, 13 of whom played in at least 50 games, led by Eduardo Rodriguez’s 3.4.

This year, 33 players did so with 15 players with at least 50 games played, led by MLB co-leader and AL Cy Young finalist, Tarik Skubal.

This is Hinch’s third time as a finalist for Manager of the Year. With the Astros, he finished second in 2015 and third in 2017. In 2018, he was just outside the finalists at fourth and he finished fifth in 2019. Then, he took over the Tigers in 2021 and received votes to end up seventh.

This year, he’s up against two AL Central rival managers, Kansas City Royals’ Matt Qautraro and Cleveland Guardians’ first-year skipper, Stephen Vogt. Oddly enough, Hinch’s Tigers were 6-7 against both the Royals and Guardians in 2024.

If Hinch were to win the award, he would be just the third Tigers manager to do so (and fourth award), joining Hall of Famers, Jim Leyland (2006) and Sparky Anderson (1984 and 1987).

The Miami Dolphins (2-6) and Los Angeles Rams (4-4) will close out Week 10 with a cross-conference battle on “Monday Night Football.” These two teams have met just 14 times in their histories, with the Dolphins holding a 12-2 lead, including winning 11 of the last 12 matchups.

The Rams are on a three-game win streak and are working their way out of injury purgatory. With wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back in the mix, Matthew Stafford is cooking once again. Additionally, the Rams also activated two of their starting interior offensive lineman—Jonah Jackson and Steve Avila—on Monday, as the offense continues to heal.

Speaking of getting healthy, the Dolphins returned Tua Tagovailoa two weeks ago and the offense has come back to life. In the four games he missed, the Dolphins scored less than 15 points in each game, but upon his return, they’ve dropped 27 points in back-to-back weeks. The downside is that their defense gave up 30 points to the Bills and 28 points to the Cardinals, losing both games.

Betting line and pick for the game

The folks over at FanDuel Sportsbook are slightly favoring the home team in this game and have set the betting line at Rams -2.5 points. Both offenses can score, which lends itself to likely being an entertaining game to watch. The difference for me is their recent performances, where the Rams have found a way to win their last three while the Dolphins have lost their last three.

Prediction: Rams 27-24

Here’s how to watch tonight’s “Monday Night Football” game:

Dolphins at Rams

Date: Monday, November 11, 2024
Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
Location: SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California
TV: ESPN
ESPN Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Lisa Salters (field reporter)
ESPN 2: The Manningcast will return in Week 11
Online Streaming: ESPN+, ESPN APP, NFL Sunday Ticket via YouTube, NFL+ Premium

Enjoy the game and come chat with us in the comments.

Four people have been charged in connection with a shooting last week at a Detroit gathering that left two teens dead, authorities announced Monday.

Johnny Lee Marsh III, 25, Eladeo Javier-Antonio Garcia, 22, Alfonso Anaya, 18, all of Detroit, and Amber Renee-Sue McIntee, 21, of Lincoln Park were arraigned Saturday through 36th District Court.

Marsh III and Garcia were charged with two counts of first-degree murder; four counts of assault with intent to murder; two counts of discharge from a motor vehicle causing death; five counts of discharge from a motor vehicle causing injury; one count of carrying a concealed weapon; 14 counts of felony firearm; and one count of resisting and obstructing a police officer.

Anaya has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, four counts of assault with intent to murder, two counts of discharge from a motor vehicle causing death, five counts of discharge from a motor vehicle causing injury, one count of carrying a concealed weapon, 14 counts of felony firearm, one count of resisting and obstructing a police officer, and one count of third-degree fleeing and eluding a police officer.

McIntee has been charged with tampering with evidence and lying to a police officer during a violent crime investigation.

Marsh, Garcia, and Anaya were remanded to jail. McIntee was given a $75,000 personal bond.

Attorneys representing the four could not immediately be reached for comment Monday.

A probable cause conference is scheduled for Nov. 19 at 8:30 a.m.

A preliminary examination is scheduled for Nov. 26 at 8:45 a.m.

Seven people were shot at a party on Nov. 3, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement.

Five were wounded: 16-year-old boy from Pontiac; two 17-year-old boys from Pontiac; an 18-year-old woman from Detroit; and an 18-year-old man from Pontiac. 

The two who died were identified as Gage Schmaltz, 19, of Southgate, and a 15-year-old boy from Detroit.

According to the release, on Nov. 3 around 1:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to a residence in the 6300 block of Devereaux Street for a reported block party or large gathering. 

Officials said multiple gunshots were fired from a vehicle into a crowd of people before the suspects fled the scene. Officers pursued the vehicle to the intersection of Gilbert and Devereaux street, where the suspects exited the vehicle and fled the scene on foot. 

After a brief foot chase, officers arrested Garcia and Marsh. Following an investigation, police later arrested Anaya and McIntee on Nov. 6.

Police believe a verbal altercation escalated and the suspects fired shots into the crowd, striking Schmaltz and the 15-year-old victim in the head. The 16-year-old Pontiac boy was hit in the face, a 17-year-old victim was hit in the chest and arm and the other 17-year-old victim was hit in the face, authorities reported.

The 18-year-old Detroit woman was hit in the right leg and the 18-year-old Pontiac man was hit in the face, chest and back. 

The 15-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene and the other victims were transported to a local hospital. Schmaltz succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead later that day.

mjohnson@detroitnews.com

@_myeshajohnson