Stumbling, staggering Tigers have clawed their way to an MLB playoff berth — now it’s all down to Game 162

Boston – Aubert et son raw champagne cut from the club-night club ceiling on Saturday evening. Lite Pilsner has also sprayed.

Exhales suspended in the air, just like the cigar smoke which has permeated the room. The “dinosaur” of Hank Williams Jr. shook the speakers. The players sang.

They had reasons to do so.

It took a lot. Uncertainty. Frustration. Doubt.

But the slow drop – the one who tested the tigers in September – finally filled the cup. A 2-1 victory against the Red Sox in Fenway on Sunday delivered it: in match 161, they had Pick up a berth in playoffs.

“That’s all that matters,” said Ace Tarik Skubal, who will likely win his second consecutive second cytor Award in November. “You play this match to enter the playoffs. No matter how you get there, once you got there, just play baseball.”

That it comes down to this is difficult to understand. Until August, the Tigers held the second best record in baseball, dragging only booming brewers. Better than dodgers. Better than paadres. Better than phillies. However, a collapse was already preparing for their peak. Since August 24, Detroit had lost 21 of the 28 games before Saturday, including 12 of their last 14.

What once looked like one of the best stories in the League turned into a disaster. The Guardians, despite a summer spoiled by suspensions linked to alleged bets and a sale of delay, caught fire. At one point, they snatched 10 consecutive victories and 17 out of 20. This 15 and a half year old cushion of Detroit disappeared. Everything comes down to the last day of the season, Cleveland holding the equality break.

But in this clubhouse, you could not feel the collapse. Only relief. Only the release of a team that has finally been breathed. The celebration has held a promise of something more brilliant, even if the road to get here almost ended with a disaster.

How the tigers have arrived here have to do with a myriad of defects.

Beyond Tarik Skubal, the rotation of Detroit was a waste. Hinch must have turned to Keider Montero as a “bulk” arm in what he called the most important game of the season. The rest of the staff did not resist. Jack Flaherty, the big addition of off -season, has an MPM of 4.64. Casey Mize seemed clear until June with an MPM of 2.82 in 14 departures. In his next 14, he came across a 4.99.

Tiger trade movements fell flat. Chris Paddack, brought from the Twins, gave Detroit six departures and an MPM of 5.40 before being pushed to the enclosure of the lifts. Charlie Morton, the veteran expected to stabilize the rotation, did not last. He posted an MPM of 7.09 in nine games and was appointed for assignment.

The bats did not wear the charge either. Javy Báez went from the start of the stars match while striking. 280 in the first half at the striker. 184 entering Saturday. Apart from Riley Greene – and to a lesser extent Spencer Torkelson – there was little coherent pop.

However, the tigers have scratched at this point. They are looking for the Central AL before match 162.

“Really nothing matters,” said Greene. “What happened does not matter. We are here and we are ready.”

Skubal, who was online to launch Sunday, will rest instead and will be aligned for match 1 of the Wild Card series. The division means something, but not enough to execute your AS. It is a risk that Detroit is not willing to take. Instead, Paddack will take the ball.

The Tigers Ace stopped in mid-interview. “Wait, I have to make a shotgun,” he said, raising his beer.

He turned his chin, dripping on his blue t-shirt in playoffs like beer and champagne falling from the clubhouse ceiling. The celebration continued. The players sang stronger.

He finally liked the way they were waiting.