Here’s everything you need to know about the Tigers-Astros AL Wild Card Series
LANSING, Mich. (WILX) – The Detroit Tigers will face off against the Houston Astros in the American League Wild Card Series in the team’s first postseason appearance in 10 years. The series will be played in Houston and Detroit will not host a playoff game at Comerica Park unless the team advances past the Astros and into the American League Divisional Series. Here’s when each game will be played and how you can watch.
The matchup with Houston pins Tigers Manager A.J. Hinch against his former club and former Tigers star Justin Verlander against his as well. Hinch was asked Sunday about facing the Astros, a franchise he won a World Series with in 2017 before being fired after a sign-stealing scandal that also left him suspended from baseball for the 2020 season.
“I mean baseball, I tell you, it’s going to take you places and sometimes it’s going to take you places where you’ve been. Teams who were not expected to be there go off and reach the World Series and sometimes win it. I’ve seen teams who were built as good as could be and not get out of the first round. I think it’s one of the most unique times in our sport because it’s as unpredictable as us,” Hinch said Sunday.
Tigers ace Tarik Skubal will get the ball in game one of the series for Detroit. Skubal clinched the AL Triple Crown in the regular season, leading the league in Wins (18), ERA (2.39) and Strikeouts (228). He is very likely to win the Amerian League Cy Young award as well. Skubal was asked by reporters Sunday evening what he thought about taking the mound in game one.
“It’s an honor,” Skubal said, “It’s a privilege to be able to have the trust from A.J. and the rest of the guys in this clubhouse to go out there Game One and put our team in a position to win so that’s what I’m going to do.”
Several other Tigers expressed their thoughts about the upcoming series to the media on Sunday, hear their thoughts in the video below.
