Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch guided his team to the postseason, defying early season doubts. Despite being considered sellers at the MLB trade deadline, with ace Tarik Skubal even mentioned in trade rumors, the Tigers found their stride in the second half of the season. They went on to upset the Houston Astros in the American League Wild Card round and are now preparing to face the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Division Series.
“We can keep playing without pressure,” Hinch said before the ALDS, as reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today. “No one expected us to be here. No one expected us to make it this far, and the way we did, some would call improbable and unique for us. We’re just focused on building momentum, stacking good days together… I think we’ve proven we can compete with anyone.
“I told our team after our win, people said we weren’t playoff-tested. Well, we’re tested now, and we’re entering this series full of confidence.”
The challenge of pulling off another upset looms, as the Guardians, winners of the AL Central in 2024, are looking to secure their first World Series title since 1948. However, with momentum on their side, the Tigers are set for a highly competitive ALDS.
Tigers-Guardians ALDS preview
Game 1 of the ALDS is set for 1:08 PM EST on Saturday in Cleveland, where the Guardians, who finished with the second-best record in the American League, will have home-field advantage. Cleveland enters the series as the favorite, but Detroit’s confidence is riding high after their recent success.
In 2023, both the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks defied expectations by reaching the World Series. The Diamondbacks barely made the postseason, yet both teams beat the odds, ultimately meeting in the Fall Classic, where the Rangers emerged victorious after a stunning postseason run.
The Tigers are hoping to chart a similar course this year. However, standing in their way is a talented Guardians team with serious World Series ambitions.
