The MLB postseason is here, and after a thrilling final day of the regular season in which the Braves and Mets split a doubleheader to clinch a spot in the playoffs and put the Diamondbacks on the back foot, the Wild Card 4 series began on Tuesday. . The Tigers opened the season by defeating the Astros in Game 1.
Tigers 3, Astros 1
The Detroit Tigers won their first playoff game in 11 years on Tuesday, defeating the Houston Astros 3-1 and taking Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series.
Behind the great performance of Triple AL Champion Tarik Skubal (6 innings pitched, 4 hits, no runs, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts), the Tigers attacked the Astros’ pitching from the start. Framber Valdez was in trouble in the second inning, allowing four hits and one walk. Valdez was removed after only 4 1/3 innings.
But the Astros weren’t quiet either. In the fourth inning, Yordan Alvarez led off with a single, and Skubal threatened to walk Yainer Diaz. However, consecutive strikeouts from Jeremy Peña and Victor Caratini wiped out the threat. In the ninth inning, Alvarez hit a leadoff double and Alex Bregman’s single put runners on first base with no outs and runners on the corners. Yainar Diaz put the Astros ahead with an RBI single, Peña advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt, and Tigers manager AJ Hinch replaced closer Jason Foley with Beau Briske. The right-handed pitcher quickly got one out and was one strike away from ending the game before giving up a walk to Chas McCormick and loading the bases. However, Jason Heyward lined out to end the game and give the Tigers the lead in Game 1.
Here’s Tuesday’s schedule, results, and how to watch.
Live66 update
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 5:47 PM EDT
NYM-MIL: Beer companies strike first
The Brewers hit three straight against Luis Severino to take the lead. William Contreras had an RBI single.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 5:45 PM EDT
KC-BAL: Royals poach Cole Regans
After six scoreless innings and 80 pitches, Cole Regans’ day was over. Sam Long will start as the No. 7 for the Royals. Lagance officially left the game after complaining of left calf cramps.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 5:40 PM EDT
NYM-MIL: Freddy Peralta starts with 1-2-3 first
Meanwhile, in Mets vs. Brewers, Freddy Peralta pitches perfectly in the top of the first inning, but Brandon Nimmo makes him work. After Francisco Lindor and Jose Iglesias struck out, Nimmo went through an eight-pitch at-bat, ending with an infield hit.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 5:36 PM EDT
Brieske directed Heyward to a lineout to Spencer Torkelson, and that’s all there is from Houston. The Tigers won Game 1 of the American League Wild Card Series 3-1.
Houston’s 10-game winning streak to start the playoffs comes to an end.
The Astros will face elimination in Game 2 on Wednesday at 2:32 p.m. ET (ABC).
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 5:33 PM EDT
Briske walked Chas McCormick, and Jason Heyward had two outs and the bases loaded.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 5:29 PM EDT
Caratini pops out into the left field seats. Not deep enough to score Bregman from third base. The Tigers have two games left.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 5:26 PM EDT
With runners on second and third base, Peña made a successful sacrifice bunt. With one out, AJ Hinch goes to the bullpen.
Beau Brisquet will face Victor Caratini.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 5:26 PM EDT
Royals 1, Orioles 0
Finally, we decided to run in Baltimore. Bobby Witt Jr. hit an RBI single that drove in Michael Garcia to give the Royals a one-run lead in the sixth inning.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 5:24 PM EDT
Yainar Díaz scores an RBI with each second.
3-1 Tigers and Astros had no outs at first and second base, and Jeremy Peña was up.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 5:21 PM EDT
Trey Sweeney’s diving stop in midfield prevents Dezenzo from scoring, but Alex Bregman closes in on goal. The Astros have no outs on 1st and 3rd base.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 5:19 PM EDT
In the bottom of the 9th inning, Yordan Alvarez took the lead with a double that hit the left field wall. Zach Dezenzo came in as a pinch runner.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 5:19 PM EDT
The Royals overcame a potentially costly defensive error by MJ Melendez in the bottom of the fifth inning. Melendez misplayed a one-out fly from Ramon Urias in the left field seats, and the ball that should have been an out ended up being a double.
Then Cedric Mullins’ single put runners on the corners. However, Cole Lagance got out of trouble with consecutive strikeouts and ended the inning, leaving us scoreless for five games.
Who blinks first?
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 5:16 PM EDT
Jason Foley entered the game to shut out the Astros. He appeared in 69 regular season games with the Tigers, making 28 saves.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 5:13 PM EDT
Josh Hader keeps the Tigers away. The Astros closed in on their final three outs, and Detroit held a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 5:11pm EDT
Great play by Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle. With Yuli Gurriel on first base and no outs, Royals outfielder MJ Melendez hit a line drive down the first base line from Corbin Burnes.
Mountcastle was caught when he was fouled and hit into a double play when Gurriel took the lead first.
Corbin Burnes then struck out Tommy Pham to end the top of the fifth inning. The pitcher’s battle remained scoreless until the bottom of the fifth inning.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 5:55 PM EDT
Holton hit Kyle Tucker on a weak grounder to third base, and the Tigers went up 3-0 with three outs in the ninth inning, three games away from making it through Game 1.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 5:04 PM EDT
Will Best leaves the Tigers game after an underwhelming performance. He faced five batters, struck out four of them, and did not allow a hit.
Tyler Holton is currently on a roll as he looks to make the finals starting in the eighth inning.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 5:01 PM EDT
The Royals responded with a 1-2-3 inning by Cole Regans. The Orioles held runners on second base until the fourth inning against Ragans. The Royals only have one win against Corbin Burnes. Neither pitcher gave a walk to a batter. Neither team scores.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 4:57 PM EDT
Matt Viering ended the inning with an out at second base after a power pitch from Astros catcher Yainar Diaz.
The Tigers lead 3-0 going into the bottom of the 8th inning.
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 4:56 PM EDT
Skubal hands off to bullpen for final nine outs
Skubal pitched just 88 pitches and was near the bottom of the Astros lineup, yet he left the game with no runs allowed in the sixth inning. Still, it’s hard to argue with this decision when you remember how good Detroit’s bullpen was all season.
Will Best came in and immediately took his turn on the side and had two strikeouts. If the batting lineup changes, left-hander Tyler Holton, the Tigers’ top reliever, will likely face Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez.
