When Tarik Skubal walked off the mound in the sixth inning of Game 5 of the ALDS, emotion poured out of him. The Detroit Tigers’ ace had just fired three straight fastballs past Cal Raleigh, the final one clocking in at nearly 101 mph. His roar and fist pump weren’t just a celebration; they were a release. It was the look of a pitcher who gave everything he had.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough. The Tigers’ season came to an end after a grueling 15-inning, 3-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Friday night.
A Dominant Outing from Detroit’s Ace
Skubal was nothing short of spectacular. In six innings, he struck out 13 Mariners, walked none, and allowed just two hits. His performance set a Major League Baseball postseason record with seven consecutive strikeouts, a feat that will live in October lore.
The 2024 AL Cy Young winner, and likely 2025 frontrunner, has made a name for himself as one of the fiercest competitors in the sport. Yet even in a record-breaking performance, his focus remained squarely on the team.
‘It’s Meant to Hurt’ — The Pain of Falling Short
When Skubal left the game, the Tigers held a 2-1 lead, just nine outs away from the ALCS. The bullpen couldn’t hold it, and the Tigers’ bats went cold. After the game, Skubal’s words carried the quiet frustration of a player who knows he did everything possible.
“It’s tough,” Skubal admitted. “It’s meant to sting. It’s meant to hurt.”
He threw 99 pitches and displayed his trademark fire with every fastball. But as he sat in the dugout, watching the season slip away, he could only think about what comes next.
Turning Pain Into Motivation
Skubal wasn’t about to let the loss define him. Instead, he spoke like a man determined to make sure it never happens again.
“It will hurt for a little bit, and then you got to rechannel that into motivation to make yourself never want to feel that feeling again,” Skubal said. “That’s what motivates me, trying to win a World Series. Being on a team that’s playing late into October, that’s the motivation for me. I just want to win. Obviously, we fell short this year, but we’ll be back. I’m confident in that.”
Those words, and that mindset, are exactly what Tigers fans have come to love about Skubal. He doesn’t just want to be great; he wants to be the reason Detroit raises another banner at Comerica Park next season.
The Bottom Line
The Detroit Tigers may have been eliminated, but Tarik Skubal proved once again why he’s one of the best pitchers in baseball. His passion, leadership, and drive are setting the standard for this young Tigers team.
Game 5 might have ended in heartbreak, but for Skubal, it’s just the beginning of something bigger. The question is, will that “something bigger” be with the Detroit Tigers? That is a discussion for another day.
Ben Verbrugge is a freelance sportswriter with a journalism degree from CSU Dominguez Hills. He is a member of the Los Angeles media and spends most of his time covering the NBA, NFL, and MLB. When not writing, he is either playing or watching sports.
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The Mariners are moving on and have a chance to win their first World Series in franchise history. Now one step closer to their goal, you can start to feel the energy, and this feels like a special team. Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez have been fantastic all season long and give Seattle two stars that are capable of taking them all the way.
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Detroit Tigersace Tarik Skubaletched his name into postseason history on Friday night, setting an MLB Playoff record with seven consecutive strikeouts in Game 5 of the ALDS against the Seattle Mariners.
Skubal was nothing short of dominant early, striking out 10 Mariners through four innings without issuing a single walk. The left-hander’s fastball command and devastating off-speed mix left Seattle’s lineup completely overmatched during one of the most electric starts of his career.
Despite Skubal’s brilliance, the Tigers trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning at the time of this article. Still, his record-breaking performance has already secured its place in MLB lore, another reminder that when Skubal takes the mound, history can happen at any moment.
Stat line (through 4 innings): 10 K, 0 BB, 2 H, 1 ER.
The Detroit Tigersand Seattle Mariners are headed for a winner-take-all Game 5 in the American League Division Series after Detroit evened the series at two games apiece on Wednesday.
Game 5 is set for Friday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, but the exact start time depends on the outcome of tonight’s Yankees–Blue Jays matchup:
If the Yankees defeat the Blue Jays in Game 4, the Tigers/Mariners first pitch will be at 4:40 p.m. ET on FS1.
If the Blue Jays win and advance to the ALCS, the Tigers/Mariners game will shift to 8:08 p.m. ET on FOX.
It will be a duel of aces on the mound, with left-hander Tarik Skubal getting the start for the Tigers and right-hander George Kirby toeing the rubber for the Mariners.
The winner of Friday’s decisive Game 5 will move on to face either Toronto or New York in the ALCS, which begins Sunday.
Fans already at Comerica Park, or planning to watch from home, will need to adjust their plans for Game 3 of the ALDS between the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners.
Weather Causes Delay
Tuesday’s game was originally scheduled to start at 4:08 p.m. ET, but inclement weather in Detroit caused a significant delay. According to Chris McCosky of The Detroit News, the FS1 broadcast crew said they are now “hoping for a 7:30 p.m. start time,” though an exact first pitch has not been officially confirmed.
Broadcast Change Announced
Because of the delay, Ryan Ermanni of Fox 2 Detroit announced that the game will no longer air on FS1. Instead, fans can now catch the Tigers-Mariners matchup on FS2, MLB Network, and the FOX One App.
“BROADCAST CHANGE!!! Due to the delay: The Tigers Mariners game will be seen on FS2, MLB Network and FOX One App!!” Ermanni tweeted.
The Bottom Line
Fans should stay tuned for official updates, but for now, it looks like the Tigers and Mariners will try to get Game 3 underway around 7:30 p.m. ET — weather permitting.
If you’re watching from home, make sure to flip to FS2 or MLB Network instead of FS1.
The Detroit Tigers have officially announced their 26-man roster for the American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners, and there are a few notable names, and surprises, on the list.
After defeating the Cleveland Guardians in Thursday’s dramatic 6-3 win to clinch the AL Wild Card series, the Tigers are now set to face Seattle in a best-of-five showdown beginning Saturday at T-Mobile Park. Manager A.J. Hinch and President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris took their time finalizing the roster, with a few key returns and strategic decisions to balance the pitching staff and position depth.
Pitchers
The Tigers will carry 12 pitchers, highlighted by Tarik Skubal, the likely AL Cy Young favorite, and Jack Flaherty, who played a pivotal role in Thursday’s victory over the Guardians. Rookie Troy Melton, who is set to start Game 1, also made the cut after an impressive late-season run.
Pitchers (12): Kyle Finnegan, Jack Flaherty, Brenan Hanifee, Tyler Holton, Brant Hurter, Tommy Kahnle, Troy Melton, Casey Mize, Keider Montero, Rafael Montero, Tarik Skubal, Will Vest
Catchers
No surprises here: Dillon Dingler and Jake Rogers will handle the catching duties. Dingler provided a huge spark in Game 3 of the Wild Card with his clutch home run, while Rogers brings veteran experience behind the plate.
Catchers (2): Dillon Dingler, Jake Rogers
Infielders
Colt Keith and slugger Spencer Torkelson headline the infield group. Gleyber Torres brings postseason experience, and Trey Sweeney adds defensive flexibility.
Detroit’s outfield remains one of its greatest strengths, led by Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter, who combined for some of the team’s biggest moments down the stretch. Parker Meadows and Wenceel Pérez add athleticism and speed, while Jahmai Jones provides a versatile bench bat.
As expected, Javier Báez, Andy Ibáñez, and Zach McKinstry round out the roster as the team’s multi-positional options. Hinch’s preference for flexibility means all three could see action in different roles throughout the series, though it seems like Báez will be the primary shortstop moving forward.
INF/OF (3): Javier Báez, Andy Ibáñez, Zach McKinstry
The Bottom Line
The Tigers’ ALDS roster blends youth, power, and experience, a reflection of the foundation A.J. Hinch and Scott Harris have built over the past few seasons. With Tarik Skubal anchoring the rotation, Troy Melton getting the Game 1 nod, and a balanced lineup featuring both young stars and proven veterans, Detroit looks primed to challenge a red-hot Mariners team.
The first pitch of Game 1 is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, October 4, at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
The Detroit Tigers are set for their American League Divisional Series matchup against the Seattle Mariners, but before first pitch on Saturday, there’s one more key decision looming: the final 26-man roster. And it could come with a major double boost.
Manager A.J. Hinch told reporters Friday that the club is weighing whether to activate bothMatt Vierling and Colt Keith for the ALDS.
“We’re still likely to carry 12 pitchers and 14 position players,” Hinch said via the Detroit Free Press. “Obviously, it’s a longer series, so you take a little bit of a deeper dive into what can happen over a five-game series, as opposed to the previous three-game series. We’re likely to take as much time as we have allotted to us to make the final decision.”
That final call has to come by 1 p.m. on Saturday, giving Detroit just hours to determine whether the duo is ready to roll. Both players were spotted taking live batting practice in Seattle alongside Hinch and President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris, a strong sign that the team is seriously considering their inclusion.
Before going down with an injury, Vierling had appeared in 31 games for Detroit this season. His numbers, a .239 batting average with 1 home run, 11 RBIs, and a .617 OPS, weren’t flashy, but his defensive versatility (outfield and third base) and ability to deliver situational hitting make him a useful roster piece. His return would add depth and flexibility to Hinch’s options late in games.
The Case for Keith
On the other hand, Colt Keith was enjoying a strong sophomore campaign before his injury. Over 414 at-bats, he hit .256 with 13 home runs, 45 RBIs, and a .746 OPS, good for a 107 OPS+, meaning he was an above-average offensive contributor. His left-handed bat would be especially valuable against Seattle’s righty-heavy pitching staff.
Why It Matters
The Tigers already shocked the Cleveland Guardians in the Wild Card round, thanks to timely power from Dillon Dingler and strong pitching from Tarik Skubal and Jack Flaherty. Now, adding both Vierling and Keith back into the fold could give Detroit more depth and balance as they gear up for the five-game grind against one of the hottest teams in baseball.
If Hinch and Harris give the green light, the Tigers won’t just be advancing into the ALDS, they’ll be doing it with reinforcements.
Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce in attendance for Game 1 of Yankees-Guardians series
Updated: 11:56 PM EDT Oct 14, 2024
Turns out, Taylor and Travis like to watch a little baseball, too.Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, are attending Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.Video above: Taylor Swift ‘shimmers’ in her signature red lip in arrival at Arrowhead StadiumThe New York Yankees, who defeated the Kansas City Royals in the American League Division Series, are hosting the Cleveland Guardians to begin the best-of-seven series. The famous couple sat together in a suite down the right-field line, in the second row above postseason bunting and a flag commemorating the Yankees’ 1932 World Series championship.Kelce, a Westlake, Ohio, native who went to high school in Cleveland Heights, sported a dark baseball cap with the words Midnight Rodeo on it. Swift also wore a hat on a 50-degree night in the Bronx.Kelce, who turned 35 on Oct. 5, grew up rooting for Kenny Lofton and Cleveland in the 1990s. Kelce threw a wild ceremonial first pitch before the Guardians’ season opener last year.Swift was also in attendance at last Monday night’s Chiefs game against the New Orleans Saints.It was the second major sporting event for Swift and Kelce in New York City over the past five-plus weeks. The couple also sat in a box to watch the men’s final at the U.S. Open tennis tournament on Sept. 8 in Queens.Kelce and the Chiefs, the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, had a bye this weekend after opening the season 5-0. Their next game is Sunday at San Francisco, a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl.
Turns out, Taylor and Travis like to watch a little baseball, too.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, are attending Game 1 of the American League Championship Series.
Video above: Taylor Swift ‘shimmers’ in her signature red lip in arrival at Arrowhead Stadium
The New York Yankees, who defeated the Kansas City Royals in the American League Division Series, are hosting the Cleveland Guardians to begin the best-of-seven series.
The famous couple sat together in a suite down the right-field line, in the second row above postseason bunting and a flag commemorating the Yankees’ 1932 World Series championship.
Kelce, a Westlake, Ohio, native who went to high school in Cleveland Heights, sported a dark baseball cap with the words Midnight Rodeo on it. Swift also wore a hat on a 50-degree night in the Bronx.
Kelce, who turned 35 on Oct. 5, grew up rooting for Kenny Lofton and Cleveland in the 1990s. Kelce threw a wild ceremonial first pitch before the Guardians’ season opener last year.
Swift was also in attendance at last Monday night’s Chiefs game against the New Orleans Saints.
Kelce and the Chiefs, the two-time defending Super Bowl champions, had a bye this weekend after opening the season 5-0. Their next game is Sunday at San Francisco, a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl.
ARLINGTON — Gunnar Henderson and the Baltimore Orioles picked the wrong week to get swept for the first time in 2023.
The rookie shortstop didn’t even know what losing in a sweep felt like in the big leagues before the AL Division Series against the Texas Rangers.
After winning 101 games and finishing the regular season with the American League’s best record, the Orioles trailed by six runs after just two innings Tuesday night. They never gave themselves a chance in a 7-1 loss, their eighth postseason defeat in a row over 10 seasons.
Baltimore still has a 91-series streak without getting swept in the regular season, going back to before Henderson was called up in the summer of 2022.
The Orioles went 52 series over the entire 2023 regular season without getting swept, a first for the franchise since it moved to Baltimore in 1954. The Orioles became the fourth big league team since 2000 to accomplish that feat.
It means little now.
Baltimore fell behind by seven runs through three innings of an 11-8 loss in Game 2 at Camden Yards, then was down by six runs in the second inning of Game 3.
Henderson had one of the few highlights with an RBI single off Nathan Eovaldi in the fifth, but the Orioles couldn’t get close.
Baltimore loaded the bases against the hard-throwing Aroldis Chapman with two outs in the eighth, but José Leclerc retired pinch-hitter Aaron Hicks on a grounder to first. Hicks had hit a three-run homer off Leclerc in the ninth inning in Game 2.
Dean Kremer started both of the clinching games for the Orioles in the regular season, the one that secured a playoff spot and the 100th victory that ensured the AL East title.
Kremer allowed six runs and seven hits in a season-low 1 2/3 innings against Texas, giving up homers to Corey Seager and Adolis García.
The 91-series streak included series of at least two decisions with no ties. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, it’s the fourth-longest streak in MLB history behind the 1942-44 St. Louis Cardinals (124), 1906-09 Chicago Cubs (115), and 1903-05 New York Giants (105).
New York Yankees Aaron Judge celebrates in the locker room after the Yankees defeated the Cleveland … [+] Guardians in Game 5 of an American League Division baseball series, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Associated Press
The music was loud, the plastic covering was on the spacious carpeting, the champagne and Bud Light flowed from one player to another.
In the hour after the Yankees completed the ALDS with their 5-1 win that seemed more like a formality once they took a three-run lead about 15 minutes in, it was a somewhat modest one on the celebration scale, especially compared to some of the others to take place by them and other teams.
The celebration had all the usual components of winning a postseason series, but it was more a theme of taking care of business in a series that felt more like the extended nature of an NBA best-of-seven first round series.
After eight days where there nearly were more days off than actual games, the Yankees won a pair of elimination games and enjoyed their first playoff series clincher at home since CC Sabathia’s 121-pitch complete game in Game 5 of the 2012 ALDS against Baltimore.
Then they got ready to take their bus to the airport for their next order of business – a third ALCS against the Houston Astros.
“If you’re stuck in the past, you’re not going to go anywhere,” said Aaron Judge, who was entering his final season at Fresno State when the Yankees escaped a tough five-game series with Baltimore. “I’m going to treat it like any other series. We’ll go there with our A game and take care of business.”
The narrative of the Yankees against the Astros is finally here and whether it was the combination of not having a day off in between the ALDS and ALCS or the recent history, the celebration was more of a loud toast with an eye towards hopefully using the more expensive champagne such as winning a pennant or a World Series like they did exactly 44 years ago in Reggie Jackson’s three-homer game over the Dodgers.
The celebration was also not like the 2001 version when the Yankees somberly clinched the AL East in their first home game following the Sept. 11 attacks on Sept. 25, 2001. It paled in comparison to ones as recently as Oct. 9 when the Padres toasted often with Brut 1818 Champagne after eliminating the Mets in Game 3 of the wild-card round in a game that was highlighted by Joe Musgrove’s futile ear check as he dominated the Mets and could hardly compete with the party going on footsteps from their large clubhouse under the elevated tracks on River Avenue.
It had the touches of a raucous celebration, especially since you could hear someone yell “Who’s Your Daddy” in reference to the Josh Naylor celebration he displayed while connecting in Game 4 off ace Gerrit Cole, who was so locked in he hardly paid attention to it.
“Yeah, whatever. It’s cute,” Cole said Sunday with the look of someone still locked in while speaking at the podium in Cleveland. “It wouldn’t have bothered me in the moment and it just is kind of funny.”
Naylor’s celebration is officially called “Rock the Baby” and it annoyed Yankee fans when it was unveiled against Cole Sunday, the same way it irked White Sox fans in Chicago when he hit a grand slam earlier this season.
By the time Tuesday afternoon arrived, fans were well-versed in this and yelled “Who’s Your Daddy” every time Naylor batted. And when Wandy Peralta (in his fifth straight game) recorded the final out, Gleyber Torres perhaps showed how the Yankees truly felt.
Torres recorded the final putout when he completed the force play from Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Then after stepping on second base, Torres swung his arms back and forth four times while throwing a steely glare at Naylor in the Cleveland dugout although later on in a somber clubhouse the first baseman said he was honored at being recognized in the form of a chant.
“We got our revenge. We’re happy to beat those guys. Now they can watch on TV the next series for us,” Torres said “It’s nothing personal. Just a little thing about revenge.”
The Yankee celebration was modest with more talk about what lies next, Round 3 with the Houston Astros. The Astros won the first two rounds of the looming trilogy and as it became apparent what was on the horizon some fans could be heard chanting their favorite four-letter word before the name “Altuve.”
The New York Yankees celebrate on the field after defeating the Cleveland Guardians in Game 5 of an … [+] American League Division baseball series, Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Associated Press
Altuve ended the last meeting between the teams with his famous homer off Aroldis Chapman, who was following the ALDS win from his home base in Miami after being instructed to stay away by the Yankees. In the month after Altuve’s game-ending homer, the details of Houston’s cheating scandal emerged with details about what they did during the seven-game ALCS over the Yankees in 2017 when the home team won every game.
Those revelations further fueled the fire and even in limited capacity due to the COVD-19 pandemic in May 2021 it was clearly evident.
Full-capacity Astros-Yankees games returned in June when a combined 180,703 fans spent a portion of their weekend watching a compelling four-game series. Over the course of 13 hours, 28 minutes, the Yankees wound getting two wins on game-ending hits in games they did not lead, got no-hit (to the delight of some people there) and got dominated by Future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander.
“We’ve seen each other a lot in years past in the postseason,” Judge said nearly four months ago. “Anytime we play, it’s always gonna be a good ballgame. I think the fans anticipate that and they bring their energy from the first pitch on. That’s what you love, you look forward to playing good teams, and seeing where you stack up in the AL.”
Now after their somewhat subdued celebration, seeing where they stack up in the AL is here for the Yankees.
“We know what we’re going up against,” Nestor Cortes said. “We’ve just going to battle it out. It’s going to be a tough series for both of us. Let the best team win.”
New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge reacts after striking out against the Cleveland … [+] Guardians during the seventh inning of Game 2 of an American League Division baseball series, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
It was just merely two weeks ago when Aaron Judge returned home fresh off hitting his 61st homer to tie Roger Maris for the AL record.
Two weeks after the seventh game of fans standing up and getting silent in anticipation of those at-bats, Judge stood in the middle of the Yankee clubhouse facing a wider group of questioners.
Not because he homered or produced the game-winning hit and most certainly not because it was a regular-season game.
Instead, Judge stood in the middle of the clubhouse in front of a blue Yankee banner with a corporate sponsor to explain to some people who appear only for postseason games what suddenly has “gone wrong” for him in the small sample known as postseason.
And the final jeopardy answer according to Judge is timing.
“When you are a little late, you miss some pitches you usually do some damage on and you are usually swinging at stuff that you don’t,” Judge said. “I’ve had two bad games in my career multiple times. It’s part of it. You have to learn from your mistakes. You have to get ready for the next one. There are no breaks right now.”
New York Yankees Aaron Judge strikes out swinging against the Cleveland Guardians during the seventh … [+] inning of Game 2 of an American League Division baseball series, Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
In the crapshoot known as the postseason that sometimes produces more random results than a Strat-O-Matic card, Judge is 0-for-8 through the first two games. He has seen 45 pitches and seven third strikes.
Adding up to the sound from some segments of the crowd on Friday. Boo!!
The boos were not present when he swung and missed at a Shane Bieber cutter to open the game about 10 minutes before Giancarlo Stanton hit a two-run homer. The boos were non-existent when he swung and missed at the same pitch in the third and did not occur in the fifth when Judge looked a fastball that appeared slightly outside and prompted him to briefly glance back at plate umpire Jeremie Rehak.
Then in the seventh of a tie game with the crowd anticipating a big moment came this sequence against Trevor Stephan: swinging strike on a fastball, foul tip on another fastball, ball one on a splitter and then a swinging strike on the same pitch.
The four-pitch sequence was followed by the boos and online the hashtag of #notmymvp. As for how he took the booing, it was about what you would expect if you ever listened to him in interview settings.
He took the boos in stride while conceding the obvious after hearing not even Hall of Famers Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter were immune from listening to on occasion.
“There’s nothing I can do. I gotta play better,” Judge said. “That’s what it comes down to. Didn’t do the job tonight.”
And a lot of Judge not getting the job done in the postseason is against Cleveland.
In nine postseason games against Cleveland he is 2-for-37 with 28 strikeouts. In his other 29 games, Judge is a .274 hitter (29-for-106)
Still even with Judge’s lack of results against whatever arm from Cleveland faces him, the Yankees are 6-3 in those games with a five-game ALDS win in 2017 and a two-game sweep in the pandemic-induced and now actual wild-card round in 2020.
And it probably explains why Terry Francona was not biting on a question about his team’s strategy for the slugger produced his fourth career postseason game of four strikeouts and the 92nd all-time in the postseason and 42nd instance in a division series game.
“I don’t mean to be rude, but if I did, I’m not sure I’d really want to share it,” Francona said. “It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. I think sometimes hitters can’t hit a button, and as good as guys are, sometimes guys take 0-fors.
“Until you get through a series successfully, I don’t think anybody if going to stand up here and pound our chest,” Francona said. “He’s too dangerous. We know that.”
Perhaps if Cleveland wins the next two games, Francona can share the details for pitching to Judge. Some of those pitchers who allowed any of Judge’s 62 homers during the regular season might be interested but until then the other Yankees are certainly not abandoning ship on the player who carried them most of the season.
“He’s had 10 or less at-bats,” Stanton said. “It’s just a small sample size that you can use. He’s got time and it’s over now. So that don’t matter. We got to win two out of three and he’s going to help us do so.”
The small sample can produce weird individual results. Just ask the likes of Alex Rodriguez, who was 8-for-44 in 13 ALDS games from 2005 to 2007 and then went 8-for-22 in his next six ALDS games before going 4-for-32 in his final nine games.
