Following a tough 8–4 defeat to the Seattle Mariners in Game 3 of the ALDS, the Detroit Tigers are now facing elimination. What was meant to be a celebration at Comerica Park—with fans hoping for a 2–1 series advantage—turned into a frustrating night as the Tigers couldn’t match the intensity of a sharp, opportunistic Mariners offense.
Still, don’t expect A.J. Hinch’s team to back down just yet.
After the Tigers’ Game 3 loss, manager A.J. Hinch had a simple message for fans: this team isn’t finished.
“We’re not going to quit,” Hinch told The Detroit News. “We’ve had two games where we pitched extremely well, and even in this one, there were stretches where we were sharp on the mound. Yes, they punished our mistakes with home runs, but we’re going to keep battling and see if we can rise to the challenge—get through their lineup and generate more offense.”
Despite the setback, Hinch’s tone was more determined than disappointed. He knows his players are no strangers to adversity, and believes the team’s resilience remains their greatest strength.This is the same squad that scratched its way into the postseason, then outlasted the Guardians in a gritty Wild Card series. They’ve been here before—and they’ve responded.
“We’ve earned our spot,” Hinch said. “We’ve played in plenty of games where our backs were against the wall. Our guys will be ready. Nothing about this was supposed to be easy, and no one’s giving anything away. We have to play better all around to beat a tough opponent. And I believe we can—because we’re a tough team, too.”
That belief will face its next challenge on Wednesday afternoon, when Casey Mize takes the mound for Game 4. He’s been a steady force down the stretch, and Detroit will count on him to deliver with their season on the line.
First pitch for Game 4 is scheduled for 3:08 p.m. ET at Comerica Park, following the Yankees’ dramatic rally over the Blue Jays on Tuesday. The Tigers will need to lean on strong pitching, solid defense, and the same relentless mentality that’s brought them this far.
It won’t be easy—but that’s just how Hinch and his team like it.
As he said: “We have a really good team, too.”
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