Detroit Tigers Clinch Postseason Berth, Prepare for Wild Card Series
BOSTON – The Detroit Tigers secured a postseason berth Saturday, celebrating a clinching victory in Boston despite a recent stretch of challenging play. The tigers’ playoff appearance marks a meaningful turnaround for the team under manager A.J. Hinch, who instilled a “play the whole schedule” mantra that proved crucial down the stretch.
The Tigers’ journey to the postseason wasn’t without turbulence.While celebrating their first playoff appearance sence 2014, the team has struggled recently, winning just three of their past 15 games – and nine of 30 – and posting a 28-40 record since July 9. Though, key moments and individual performances, like Javier Báez’s game-saving diving catch in shallow left field during Saturday’s contest, propelled them forward.
“All that matters is whenever we get to Game 1,” pitcher tarik Skubal said, referencing the best-of-three wild-card series. “Executing that game is all that matters.”
Báez emphasized the team’s focus on the remaining games, stating, “I told all the boys: This is the beginning of the end. This is when we got to get it locked in and play the rest of the games as a team and try to win as much as we can.”
The Tigers will play one final regular season game before beginning their wild card series.