CLEVELAND – Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch and reigning Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal shared insights ahead of their wild-card matchup against divisional rival Cleveland Guardians.
Colt Keith
Hinch discussed the team’s roster decisions, noting that they must reduce the roster to 26 players by the 10 p.m. deadline before the series begins.
“We’re expecting to carry all the position players who were in Boston to end the year,” said Hinch, adding that pitching decisions will be the toughest.
Colt Keith, currently rehabbing in Detroit, will join the team but won’t be active for the series.
Hinch expressed optimism that if the Tigers advance, Keith could be available later.
Facing Guardians
Hinch highlighted the challenge of facing the Guardians’ offense, which is relentless and talented.
“They pound the strike zone and have quality arms. Their starters go deep, so we need to put pressure on them early,” Hinch said.
Offensively, Cleveland’s lineup is deep and versatile, often using small ball and platoon advantages to create pressure.
Hinch praised Cleveland’s ability to insert José Ramírez in key spots, noting his consistent production with runners on base.
Hinch also spoke about his relationship with Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, whom he met at the 2015 All-Star Game.
He described Vogt as one of the toughest managers to face, blending gut instincts and data-driven decision-making.
Skubal’s first start since David Fry incident
Regarding Skubal’s first start since a recent incident involving David Fry, Hinch said he has processed the situation and is focused on competing.
Fry took a Skubal 99-mile per hour fastball to the face while attempting to bunt on Sept. 23 in the sixth inning of a 5-2 victory over the Tigers.
Hinch described Skubal as a respectful and motivated competitor, both on and off the field, who balances intensity with a personable nature.
Hinch credits experience and growth for his comfort in high-pressure moments and his evolution as a pitcher.
He noted Skubal’s ability to stay loose between innings, attributing it to maturity and learning to enjoy the game more fully after overcoming adversity.
Team Journey to October baseball
Hinch reflected on the team’s journey to October, emphasizing a sense of accomplishment rather than relief.
“We put up the wins and played well enough to be an October team,” Hinch said.
Hinch acknowledged the unpredictability of the season but stressed that the focus is now solely on winning the best-of-three series against Cleveland.
Hinch also praised young players like Dillon Dingler, who has grown into an everyday catcher role with confidence and steady performance.
Tarik Skubal
Skubal shared his thoughts on pitching at Progressive Field and his approach to starting Game 1 on Tuesday (Sept. 30).
He said he enjoys pitching inside the Guardians ballpark, appreciating the lively environment, noise, and chaos that embody postseason baseball.
Tuesday’s game will be his third start in a row against the Guardians. In the pretty unique situation, Skubal said he didn’t care as he was just trying to win ball games.
Reflecting on previous starts against Cleveland, Skubal noted that while scouting reports help, success ultimately comes down to executing pitches.
“You can have a great scouting report and a great plan. If you don’t execute, what’s the plan matter?” said Skubal.
Visiting Fry
Skubal discussed his recent visit to Fry in the hospital after the on-field injury last week.
He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to check on Fry and apologize, emphasizing the real-life risks associated with baseball, despite it not being a contact sport like football.
Skubal said Fry is recovering well, though he can’t play currently, and the visit brought him peace of mind.
When asked about making his first start since the incident in front of the Cleveland crowd, Skubal said he wasn’t sure how to answer, but he was focused on competing.
Vogt relationship
He also described his relationship with Guardians manager Vogt, praising his relaxed yet effective managing style.
Skubal said Vogt’s respect for players and willingness to mix gut instincts with data make him one of the toughest managers to face.
He reflected on his own growth, noting that early in his career, he took everything too seriously but has since learned to enjoy the game more fully.
He credits his life experiences, including injuries, for helping him strike a balance between competitiveness and fun.
Facing the Cleveland lineup
Skubal also discussed his changeup pitch, which has become a key weapon against right-handed hitters by moving away from them and disrupting their timing.
On facing Cleveland again in the playoffs, Skubal said every start is an opportunity to learn and improve, regardless of whether it’s in the regular season or postseason.
Skubal emphasized that the game remains the same — throwing strikes, getting ahead, and putting hitters away — but the atmosphere and stakes are different in the postseason.
Team camaraderie
Skubal said he values the opinions of teammates, coaches, and trainers above outside noise, especially social media.
He described the camaraderie and respect shared among players, including his conversations with Francona and others.
Skubal also shared a lighthearted moment about his competitive nature with his children, joking that he won’t let them beat him at golf until they’re ready.
Season review/series preview
The Tigers finished the regular season dropping 13 out of their previous 16 games while finishing 87-75 to cap off the once-promising regular season.
Cleveland won the American League Central Division largely due to five head-to-head wins over Detroit in six meetings during the final two weeks of the regular season.
Although the ending result was disappointing for Detroit, which spent much of the season competing for the league’s top record, it’s been in this spot before.
Despite recent struggles on the mound and at the plate, the Tigers are returning to the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
The Tigers secured a postseason spot on Saturday, Sept. 27, by defeating the Boston Red Sox 2-1 at Fenway Park.
Prior to Sunday, Sept. 28, the Tigers had lost 11 of 12 games, which caused them to lose their 14-game lead in the AL Central last week.
However, they managed to win one game against the Guardians and held a 2-1 lead over the Red Sox on Saturday, benefiting from the Houston Astros’ losing streak.
They had six all-stars in the Midsummer Classic, which featured Gleyber Torres, Riley Greene, Javier Báez, and Skubal (all starters), along with Zach McKinstry and Casey Mize (who were selected as replacements).
Even bat boy Frankie Boyd made the cut.
The six selections marked a franchise record for the Tigers, tying the 2013 and 1984-85 teams for the most All-Stars sent to the game.
For the 2025 team, instead of a first-round bye or a home playoff series, the Tigers will now head to Cleveland for the Wild Card round, which starts on Tuesday, Sept. 30.
The pitching matchup features Skubal against Gavin Williams — a rematch of a game the Tigers lost exactly one week earlier.
And Detroit will look to get some “Get back” as Cleveland eliminated them 3-2 in the ALDS.
This season, through 13 games, the Guardians have won eight games, accumulating 46 runs and seven home runs, while maintaining an earned run average of 2.19.
The Tigers won five games while knocking in 34 runs, but averaged 1.4 home runs with an earned run average of 2.75 against their divisional foe.
The winner of the best-of-three Tigers-Guardians series will advance to play the second-seeded Seattle Mariners in the ALDS.