HOUSTON -- The Astros have their backs against the wall in early October, which is a position Houston¡¯s playoff-tested club hasn¡¯t been in since its run of seven consecutive trips to the American League Championship Series began in 2017.
That streak began under former Houston manager A.J. Hinch, who has his up-and-coming Tigers one win away from advancing to the AL Division Series after beating Houston, 3-1, in Game 1 on Tuesday afternoon. After Tarik Skubal shut down the Astros, the starting matchups flip heavily in Houston¡¯s favor, with Hunter Brown getting the start in Game 2 on Wednesday afternoon.
¡°He¡¯s one of the best starters in the game,¡± Espada said. ¡°He¡¯s been one of the best pitchers in the second half, so that was a no-brainer for me.¡±
Brown had a terrible April (11.84 ERA), but he turned his season around May 11 at Detroit, where he struck out seven and gave up one run in five innings in his only relief appearance of the season.
¡°That was probably maybe a turning point for me at the time,¡± Brown said. ¡°I was kind of struggling, and it was something that [manager] Joe [Espada] and pitching coach [Josh] Miller had talked to me about coming out of the bullpen to maybe jump-start the season, maybe get me right.¡±
The Tigers, meanwhile, turn to the ¡°pitching chaos¡± that manager Hinch wryly referenced going into the series, mixing and matching to try to get favorable situations through nine innings. Detroit used it for the last seven weeks to get into the playoffs, but this will be the first time using it on a national stage.
¡°I love it,¡± Skubal said. ¡°Those guys have been doing it for the last month and a half. Just mixing and matching, coming in any situation, any scenario. Doesn't matter. Straight from [Triple-A] Toledo right into leverage innings. Doesn't matter who's taking the ball. They come in and take pitches, and I think it makes A.J.'s job fun when we have guys in the bullpen able to do that. I think it makes the other team's job really hard too. There's no rhythm, no flow, you mix up timing. Give guys different looks, and it's to our advantage for sure.¡±
When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 2 is live right now on ABC, with Michael Kay, Todd Frazier and Tim Kurkjian in the booth.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Tigers: LHP Tyler Holton
Holton gets the opening assignment to tackle left-handed hitters Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker. Holton has pitched every inning from the first to the 10th at some point this season, but he¡¯s particularly good as an opener, posting a 1.59 ERA in 17 innings over nine starts.
Astros: RHP Hunter Brown
Brown had a breakout regular season in 2024, leading Astros starters with 30 starts while setting career bests in ERA (3.49), innings (170) and strikeouts (179). He had eight starts this season in which he didn¡¯t allow an earned run. The Detroit native has faced his hometown Tigers five times (four starts) in his career, going 3-0 with a 2.93 ERA in those contests.
What are the starting lineups?
Tigers: Though Brown was more effective against left-handed hitters (.209 average, .623 OPS) than righties (.279, .716) this season, the Tigers started their left-handed hitters who sat against southpaw Framber Valdez, notably Kerry Carpenter and Colt Keith, who is 3-for-5 with a double off Brown this season.
1. Parker Meadows, CF
2. Kerry Carpenter, DH
3. Matt Vierling, RF
4. Riley Greene, LF
5. Colt Keith, 2B
6. Spencer Torkelson, 1B
7. Zach McKinstry, 3B
8. Trey Sweeney, SS
9. Jake Rogers, C
Astros: The Astros had Tucker in the No. 2 spot and Alvarez in the No. 3 spot in Game 1, and it stayed that way for Game 2. Jason Heyward, who hit a sharp liner for the final out Tuesday, earned the nod in left, and Chas McCormick¡¯s tough ninth-inning at-bat also netted him a start over Jake Meyers.
1. Jose Altuve, 2B
2. Kyle Tucker, RF
3. Yordan Alvarez, DH
4. Alex Bregman, 3B
5. Yainer Diaz, C
6. Victor Caratini, 1B
7. Jeremy Peña, SS
8. Jason Heyward, LF
9. Chas McCormick, CF
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Tigers: Somebody will likely be counted on for bulk innings after Holton. Right-hander Reese Olson is a top candidate; he was one of the Tigers¡¯ most reliable starters over the first half of the season before a sore shoulder forced him to the injured list in late July. He returned in mid-September for three starts but hasn¡¯t stretched out beyond four innings. With Holton going early, lefty Sean Guenther could get a matchup with Alvarez and Tucker later in the game given his late-season success and ability to disrupt timing.
Astros: The Astros had to go to their bullpen in the fifth inning in Game 1, but Ronel Blanco worked two innings to provide a bit of length. Houston is carrying 12 relievers, so Bryan Abreu, Ryan Pressly, Caleb Ferguson and starter Spencer Arrighetti are fresh arms. Closer Josh Hader threw only 15 pitches in Game 1, so he could pitch in Game 2.
Any injuries of note?
Tigers: Javier B¨¢ez is out for the season following right hip surgery in August.
Astros: Alvarez (sprained right knee) went 2-for-4 at DH and appears able to give competitive at-bats, but they¡¯ll have to monitor him the rest of the series.
Who¡¯s hot?
Tigers: Jake Rogers was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Game 1. His RBI single in the second sparked the Tigers¡¯ three-run frame. ¡ Wenceel P¨¦rez was 2-for-5 with a run scored. He joined Rogers as the first Tigers to collect multiple hits in their first postseason appearance since Austin Romine in Game 1 of the 2014 ALDS at Baltimore. ¡ Parker Meadows was 1-for-4 with a single, a run scored and a stolen base. He¡¯s the seventh Tiger and the third since 1909 to steal a base in his first career postseason appearance. The last to do so was Quintin Berry in Game 1 of the 2012 ALDS vs. the A¡¯s.
Astros: Alvarez was 2-for-4 with a double in Game 1 and has logged multiple hits in seven consecutive postseason games. ¡ Jose Altuve¡¯s third-inning single in Game 1 was the 118th playoff hit, breaking a tie with Manny Ramirez for the third most in MLB postseason history,. ¡ Alex Bregman was 2-for-4 on Tuesday and has 87 playoff hits, tying him with former teammate Yuli Gurriel for the 13th most in MLB postseason history.