Josh Naylor of the Cleveland Guardians hits a double in the fifth inning during Game 2 of the American League District Series against the Detroit Tigers on Monday, October 7, 2024 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dahmer)
DETROIT — The Motor City hasn’t hosted a baseball playoff game in a decade.
The long wait will soon be over.
The Detroit Tigers faced the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday, ending a drought dating back to 2014 with a tie in each of the best-of-five American League Division Series games.
“We have a generation of kids here who have never seen postseason baseball live.” Tigers president of basketball operations Scott Harris said Tuesday. “I hope it’s loud from the first pitch. I’ve seen the fans help us win games, so I’m really looking forward to seeing what they do.” ”
The Guardians have a player who will make a long-awaited return to the postseason.
Alex Cobb last appeared in the playoffs in 2013, starting two games for Tampa Bay in a wild-card win over Cleveland and a division series loss to Boston.
The 37-year-old right-hander underwent hip surgery on Oct. 31 of last year and had yet to return to the mound when he was acquired from San Francisco at the July 30 trade deadline.
The 2023 All-Star made his season debut on Aug. 9, but was sidelined after two games with a torn nail on his right index finger. He pitched six innings against Pittsburgh on September 1, allowing no earned runs, but then developed a blister on his right middle finger and was placed on the disabled list, ending the regular season. He pitched 16 1/3 innings in three games with the Guardians, posting a record of 2 wins, 1 loss, and a 2.76 ERA.
“I don’t think anyone appreciates the playoffs more than me after being out of the playoffs for so long.” Mr. Cobb said.
He prepared for the playoffs against the American League Central Champions by playing two simulation games.
“I was living and dying on every pitch in these two simulation games to give them confidence that I was ready.” Mr. Cobb said.
Cobb, who is pitching for his fifth major league team, said he is ready for the challenge and opportunity.
“I think having a team like ours gives us a little more confidence.” he said. “We have the best defense in baseball, the best bullpen in baseball.”
Detroit tied the series with a 3-0 win on Monday when Kelly Carpenter hit a three-run homer in the ninth off All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase.
Tigers manager AJ Hinch plans to use a number of pitchers for about one inning on Wednesday, as the Tigers have appeared in the playoffs twice and have played in many regular-season games. The Tigers, who traded pitchers Jack Flaherty and Andrew Chafin and outfielder Mark Canaha at the deadline in a move that seemed to hint at their future, have won back-to-back games with a 33-13 record. I got a wild card.
Detroit used seven pitchers to defeat American League West champion Houston, winning all two wild-card games and winning the postseason series for the first time since 2013, but five pitchers will be on the mound in Saturday’s Division Series opener. and lost 7-0.
“We don’t really call it a bullpen day.” Harris said. “We tried to find a strategy that worked for our pitching staff, but if you look at our pitching staff right now, we’re pretty wide open in stuff and depth, and we’re short on experience.
“Having a non-traditional approach to pitching allows a lot of young pitchers to adapt to this level of the game more quickly. It also takes some pressure off by having some of our young starters come out of the bullpen. And it gives AJ the opportunity to be a little more unpredictable for the opponent.”
Hinch did not announce Detroit’s starting lineup, but said he would let the Guardians know by the end of Tuesday’s practice.
“We obviously have a game plan for our starters, but then as we go into the second and third innings, we kind of start to get a feel for it.” said Cleveland All-Star outfielder Stephen Kwan. “But it’s a new arm each time, so things are different.”
