The Detroit Tigers Have Conquered their Kryptonite

How about Jack Flaherty?

He returned to Detroit this season and couldn’t find the same dominance he had in 2024. An up and down year with plenty of frustrations not only from himself, but from the fans.

The talk surrounded Detroit’s lack of rotation depth and how they will manage to get through these games. The trust was put into Flaherty and he delivered.

Flaherty gave the Tigers 4 2/3 innings but allowed only three hits, one run, and struck out four. He got Jose Ramirez with a breaking ball swinging in the first and walked off the mound with his signature strut. You’d have to think this was a confidence building outing.

Lastly, Javy Baez. A ludicrous, vintage, stretch made him an All-Star before the Javy Tigers fans know all too well returned in the second half posting a .548 OPS. We thought the “Javy moments” were all dried up for the season, then the playoffs started.

Two hits in game one, two in game two, and a big double in game three helping the rally that ultimately put the Tigers on top.

He also made some plays in the field that kept Guardians off the bases. A couple of his signature quick tags to go with clean footwork and quick movements gave us another glimpse of vintage Javy.

The Magic was on the Tigers Side

When the Tigers play the Guardians you cannot celebrate until the final out is made. Tigers fans have grown to learn that the Guardians pesky, annoying, and nonsensical magic comes every game at various points.

In game one, Javy made a nice diving stop and a one hop throw to first which should have been the first out of the ninth.

Instead, Torkelson misplayed the hop allowing Ramirez to scamper all the way to third. The crowd erupted and every Tigers fan thought here we go again.

Flash backs of the previous month relayed over and over.

But, against all odds, Will Vest fielded a high bouncer and caught Ramirez between third and home leading to an out and erasing the most threatening base runner. The type of thing that always seemed to go in the Guardians’ favor before.

In game three Ramirez hits a grounder to first and Torkelson makes a routine throw to Vest, who was covering the bag. Vest completely botches the catch allowing two to score and Jose on his way to second continuing the type of rally the Guardians always find.

But, Vest recovers and throws a perfect ball to Javy, covering second, who applied a quick tag on Ramirez ending what could have been a turning point in the game.

Another example of the types of plays the Guardians typically get away with, but not today. Not this series.

Vest escaped a situation in which might have gotten him pulled from the game and replaced with another pitcher. He was able to stay in and close the game out, striking out the side in the ninth.

Final Thoughts

Anytime you beat a team that has had your number you get a different boost of confidence.

It’s the same confidence a younger brother gains after finally beating his older brother in a game of one on one. The Guardians are far from the best team in this playoffs, but they might have been the most difficult one for the Tigers. Even if they aren’t, there’s no doubt they were the most important.

If the Tigers would have lost the entire vibe heading into the offseason who would of failure. Unable to top a team that lacks depth in your own division is a tough pill to swallow.

But, the Tigers are moving on and have now won a first round series in back to back years for the first time in over a decade.

What lies ahead is a difficult task. The Mariners have played great baseball and come with a pitching staff that is up there with the best in the game.

However, Detroit is riding momentum. A momentum that is strong enough to erase over a month of bad baseball. A momentum that can swing a series, no matter who is on the mound.