A.J. Hinch reveals Tigers’ pitching plan for Game 1
Tyler Holton will get the start in Game 1 as an opener for the Tigers.
The Detroit Tigers are facing off against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians in Game 1 of the ALDS on Saturday at 1:08 p.m. ET. To nobody’s surprise, the Tigers are once again planning on using a non-traditional pitching approach.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch revealed that reliever Tyler Holton would get the start in Game 1, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN.
Hinch also shed some light who could come in after Holton.
“As usual, we’re going to go a lot of different ways,” Hinch said. “We’re going to use our relievers as we need to, and having an extra off day between those games is probably an advantage for every single pitcher in this series, including our guys.”
It appears that Hinch is using the same strategy that worked for him in Game 2 of the Wild Card round against the Houston Astros. Holton started that game as the opener, shut the Astros down in the first inning, and after that Hinch went to the bullpen. The Tigers used seven different relievers to hold the Astros to just two runs and clinch their spot in the ALDS.
With likely-American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal planning to start in Game 2 on Monday on full rest, it appears that every pitcher is available for Hinch to turn to in Game 1 except for Skubal.
Why the Detroit Tigers are turning to Tyler Holton to start Game 1 of the ALDS against the Cleveland Guardians?
