Chris Illitch Shares Blunt Message on Tigers' World Series Hopes After Series Clinching Win at Guardians

Illitch: Tigers Fans Deserve More

Illitch spoke with WXYZ-7 Detroit's Brad Galli during an exciting scene in the locker room after Detroit's victory Thursday.

"I'm so proud of these guys and I'm so happy for them, the way things went toward the end of the season was obviously tough, and to see them come through the way they have and now have this success, I'm very excited for them," Illitch said.

The Tigers were written off after 13 losses in 16 games toward the end of the season as they coughed up their Central Division lead to the Guardians.

Illitch's team stormed back with a 2-1 first round win, a development that could portend the return of the Tigers squad that many had pegged as a World Series favorite earlier this season.

"(September) is well in the past," Illitch said.

"Maybe we've woken a sleeping giant here, I think these guys got through some of the tougher moments and, their perseverance has been incredible, and so I'm very, very excited for them to kinda get through that rough stretch, and who knows, maybe they'll be the team we saw in the first half again."

Illitch 'Super Excited' for Tigers Fans

Detroit will head to Seattle for two road games before returning to Comerica Park in their long awaited home playoff debut.

"I'm just super excited for Tiger fans, Tigers fans, are, they're so passionate, they deserve this, they deserve more, and more than anything, you know, Tigers fans should know, this team's goal, my goal is to win a World Series," Illitch added.

"This is a step in that direction, is it gonna happen this year, I don't know, I hope it does, but if it doesn't, we're gonna stay laser-focused and we're gonna keep at it next year," Illitch added, saying he hopes Detroit will continue to elevate its playing with each passing round.

How to Watch game 1, Detroit at Seattle

The Tigers' Game 1 matchup in Seattle is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 4 at 8:38 p.m. ET on Fox, giving Detroit sports fans a chance to gorge themselves on college football and playoff baseball just in time for the start of the fall color season in the Great Lakes State.

The Tigers and Mariners' pitching probables have not been released yet but there is a strong chance that Detroit will consider sending ace Tarik Skubal out to the hill in Game 1 or Game 2 in hopes of putting itself on solid footing early on in the series.

The Tigers' season has been topsy-turvy with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows so far in 2025.

Their series against Seattle represents another speed bump on their road map to the top.

Detroit showed earlier this season they can play with, and beat, the best of the best in Major League Baseball.

Manager AJ Hinch's team won't hang a Central Division Championship banner this season, but a World Series championship banner is now a distinct possibility for a franchise that hasn't seen one since way back in 1984.