'Gritty Tigers' are proving big hits don't only come from big names

DETROIT -- As members of the Tigers lineup have walked up to the plate throughout this postseason, casual fans may have been stumped. After all, who is Wenceel Pérez, or Zach McKinstry, or Andy Ibáñez?

The baseball gods don’t care how big of a name you are. The Tigers have shown that since mid-August, but especially this October. Ibá?ez delivered a pinch-hit, bases-clearing double in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series in Houston to send Detroit to the ALDS. Kerry Carpenter offered up a go-ahead homer in Game 2 of the ALDS in Cleveland against arguably the best closer in baseball in Emmanuel Clase.

And though the Tigers fell, 5-4, in Game 4 to the Guardians on Thursday night at Comerica Park, a pair of lesser-known hitters in McKinstry and Pérez contributed in big ways, combining to go 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs in the loss. That’s part of what’s made this Detroit team so great.

Manager A.J. Hinch emphasized that the lack of egos on his team is what has made it so successful during this stretch.

“It's probably a little unusual,” he said. “Everybody wants their moment, but we have high-character guys that are willing to do anything that you can. We have a lot of capable guys, but we have a lot of guys who are willing to take a seat if the next guy has a better advantage.

“I think the player buy-in is the No. 1 key. The players have to go out and believe that that's the right strategy for us to maximize our abilities, and I'm very appreciative of it, and I see it in action every day. The players are incredible on this team. The buy-in is special. I think it's part of the reason that we're doing special things.”

If the Tigers want to keep their Cinderella run going, they’ll need to keep getting those contributions from unforeseen places. With Carpenter potentially down for Game 5 and beyond with a left hamstring injury, it'll be more necessary than ever.

Tigers outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy may not have had his big moment yet, like the likes of Carpenter and Ibá?ez, or even McKinstry and Pérez, but he could be next. Malloy led off for Detroit in Game 2 against Cleveland starter Matthew Boyd -- who is an option to start for Game 5 -- going 2-for-3 in a big win.

Malloy also hit a pinch-hit leadoff double off Clase in the ninth inning of Game 4, scoring what would have been the game-tying run if not for the insurance run the Guardians had scraped across in the top half of the frame.

“The way I kind of process it is just kind of that next man up mentality,” Malloy said. “Whenever my number is called, just be ready. I think everyone's kind of adopted that mentality on this team. I think that's why we've been so successful. There's no egos. Everyone's just kind of ready to go whenever their numbers are called, from hitters to the guys in the bullpen. So with that mentality, I think it's gonna pay off really well going forward.”

The 24-year-old rookie has the perfect amount of plate discipline and power that Hinch loves and will almost definitely utilize for Game 5, and potentially beyond.

“He's a real threat against left-handed pitching,” Hinch said before Game 3. “He's a threat against right-handed pitching, too. But right now, he's doing better against lefties. He knows why he's on this roster. He knows what his role is. And he's usually one step ahead in preparing for that. So I love getting him up to bat and sticking with him through his growth, because coming off the last series, he played an instrumental role against their left-handed pitching and I'm hoping for the same this series.”

The Tigers have played with a sense of urgency for the last month-plus, practically willing themselves to the postseason. Now, for the first time, their backs are truly up against the wall as they prepare for a winner-take-all Game 5 against the Guardians on Saturday night at Progressive Field.

No matter who steps up to contribute, it’s nothing new for the “Gritty Tigers.”

“We've done it all year, so I'm excited to go into Game 5, and we're gonna keep that same energy,” outfielder Parker Meadows said. “We’ve faced adversity all year, so like I said, we're just going to keep going day by day with it. Obviously, it's an elimination game. But that's not gonna change the way that we look at things.”