Detroit Tigers beat Houston Astros 3-1 in Wild Card game one

DETROIT (FOX 2) - For the first time in ten years, the Detroit Tigers are in the MLB playoffs with game one on Tuesday in Houston – and they came away with a massive victory, beating the Astros 3-1.

By clinching the 6th seed in the MLB Playoffs, the Tigers will face the Houston Astros in a three-game series – all of which are in Houston – with the first pitch at 2:32 p.m. ET. 

Starting for the Astros is Framber Valdez - who went 15-7 with a 2.91 ERA. Tarik Skubal got the start for the Tigers – he went 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA.

5:35 p.m. - Detroit's bullpen holds on 

After a dramatic 25-minute bottom of the 9th inning and two pitchers, the Detroit Tigers wrapped up this one, winning 3-1 in Houston.

5:15 p.m. - Astros get on the board

Closer Jason Foley was called on to save this one – but gave up a double off the left field wall to Yordan Alvarez and then an infield single by Alex Bergman put runners on the corners with nobody out for Yainer Diaz – who singled in Alvarez to bring the winning run to the plate. 

The Tigers still held a 3-1 lead as Jeremy Pena gave up himself to move the runners over With runners on second and third, Foley was pulled and reliever Beau Brieske was brought in to face Victor Caratini. 

Brieske came in dealing, with heaters in the upper 90s and got Caratini to fly out to left field. The Astros brought in Chas McCormick to pinch-hit and Brieske hit triple digits with his four-seam fastball.

But McCormick was patient and worked the count full – bringing the drama in Houston to full boil. It was McCormick who won the battle as Brieske missed with a sinker down and away, loading the bases for Jason Heyward.

The battle between Brieske and Heyward was nearly as intense as the one with Brieske who won by stranding the bases loaded – getting Heyward on a line-out to first base.

5:08 p.m. - Tigers strand Greene at third

Riley Greene hit a ground-rule double to right field and Keith moved him to third with a ground-out to the right side, but Pérez couldn't bring him home, fouling out to first base.

5:02 p.m. - Three quick outs for Detroit's bullpen

Vest continued to cut down the Astros by striking out Jason Heyward and Jose Altuve before Tyler Holton was called in to get a quick groundout of Kyle Tucker.

4:55 p.m. Vierling caught stealing

In the top of the eighth, Matt Vierling took a walk and on the second pitch, tried to steal on Astros pitcher Caleb Ferguson but was cut down. 

The eighth inning was the first time that the Astros faced the minimum hitter all game – as the Tigers had gotten a hit or walk in every single inning.

4:40 p.m. - Tigers go to the bullpen

After a dominant day by Skubal, the Astros went to the bullpen in reliever Will Vest.

Skubal finished his day allowing just 4 hits, 6 strikeouts, one walk, and zero earned runs in six innings.

Vest continued dominance of the Astros, striking out two and getting a long fly out to center field.

4:30 p.m. - Tigers aggressive on the basepaths

Blanco returned to the mound for Houston and got two quick outs before walking Keith and then giving up a single to Pérez to right field. When the throw went to third to try cut down Keith, Houston rocketed back to second – but Pérez craftily avoided the tag at second. 

Houston initiated a review – but the call was confirmed on the field.

Blanco then walked Torkelson, setting up a chance for Meadows to break the game wide open.

But Blanco worked his out, striking Meadows out and stranding all three runners on base.

4:20 p.m. - Skubal tweaks knee 

On a 2-2 count to Alex Bergman, Skubal threw a fastball that just missed – but he appeared to react like her hurt his front leg. Two pitches later, he gave up a shot to Bergman that missed a home run by just inches in left field.

But he stranded him there, striking out Diaz to keep the lead at 3-0.

4:05 p.m. - Astros dip deeper into the bullpen

After Bryan King got Meadows to foul out, Rogers singled to left. Then King stuck out Sweeney before the Astros called on Ronel Blanco to strike out Vierling.

Through the middle of the 6th, the Tigers lead stays at 3-0.

4:00 p.m. - Skubal's 5-pitch fifth

As the Astros go to the bullpen, Skubal seems to have found a groove: he set the Astros down in order on just 5 pitches in the fifth inning.

3:50 p.m. - Tigers chase Valdez

In the top of the 5th, the Tigers chased Astros starter after Malloy singled to right field. After walking pinch-hitter Colt Kieth, Hector Noris struck out Pérez and Torkelson to keep the score at 3-0.

3:40 p.m. - Skubal finds himself in a jam

With a 3-0 lead,  Skubal gave up a single to Yordan Alvarez and then walked Yainer Diaz to bring up Peña – who Skubal struck out for the second time.

Skubal worked his way out of the jam by getting Caratini on a half swing to end the inning.

3:30 p.m. - Parker Meadows singles and steals second

Meadows singled to center and then stole second when Trey Sweeney went down on strikes. But the Tigers couldn't convert - leading 3-0 in the middle of the 4th.

3:15 p.m. - Skubal gives up first hit

Skubal gave up his first hit of the game – a single to Victor Caratini – but a force play at second took him off the base paths. Skubal then struck out Jake Meyers before allowing a single to Jose Altuve to put a runner in scoring position for the Astros.

But Skubal wasn't rattled and got Kyle Tucker to fly out to left to end the threat.

3:10 p.m. - Tigers can't capitalize on Ibáñez' double

In the top of the 3rd, Andy Ibáñez doubled to right field with one out. 

Pérez bounced one to second, moving Ibáñez to third but Torkelson hit a soft liner to the shortstop, putting an end to the threat.

3:00 p.m. - Skubal takes a liner

There was a bit of a scare in the bottom of the second as Skubal took a line drive off of the heel of his non-pitching hand. 

Trainers and manager A.J. Hinch came to check on him but, after a few minutes, Skubal stayed in the game and got Jeremy Peña on strikes to end the inning.

Hinch later told ESPN that Skubal was fine.

2:53 p.m. - Tigers score three in the second

Wenceel Pérez gets the first hit of the day - a single to right field with one out in the top of the second. Spencer Torkelson worked a walk to get two on in front of Parker Meadows. Meadows bounced one to second base and the Astros got the force out but Meadows' speed beat the double play. 

The mustachioed catcher, Jake Rogers, stepped up with runners on the corners. Rogers singled Pérez in from third on a 3-0 pitch to get Detroit out to the first lead of the game.

Back-to-back RBI singles from Trey Sweeney and Vierling brought in two more runs to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead. 

Valdez put an end to the rally by striking Malloy out – but the Tigers jumped out in front first.

2:43 p.m. - Skubal makes short work of the Astros

Skubal likely threw more pitches in warm-up than he did during the first. It took only five pitches for Skubal to get back to the dugout and bring the Tigers back to the plate.

2:32 p.m. - Matt Vierling steps up

In the top of the first, the Tigers went down quietly with Vierling grounding out to first. Justyn-Henry Malloy stepped in for a four-pitch walk but Riley Greene grounded into a double play to wrap the top of the first.

2:15 p.m. - Starting lineups announced

Gametime is nearly here. The crowd in Houston is filing in as both the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros are introduced ahead of the first pitch.

12:00 p.m. - Tigers arrive at Minute Maid Park

Around noon ET – 11 a.m. CT – the Tigers began arriving at Minute Maid Park in Houston.

11:30 a.m. - Tigers set wildcard lineup

Around 11: 30 a.m., the Detroit Tigers set their first playoff game lineup with likely American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal getting the start. 

Here is how the Tigers will line up in the batting order on the field in game one:

1. Matt Vierling (R) 3B
2. Justyn-Henry Malloy (R) DH
3. Riley Greene (L) LF
4. Andy Ibáñez (R) 2B
5. Wenceel Pérez (S) RF
6. Spencer Torkelson (R) 1B
7. Parker Meadows (L) CF
8. Jake Rogers (R) C
9. Trey Sweeney (L) SS

11:25 a.m. - Tigers wild card roster

The Tigers had to set a 26-man roster for the MLB Playoffs. These 26 players will be available to play in the three-game series. If the Tigers advance, they could swap out some players. 

The Tigers are carrying three starting pitchers but are keeping the bullpen loaded with nine players – including rookie Jackson Jobe who was called up just last week.

Pitchers

• Tarik Skubal (SP)
• Reese Olson (SP)
• Casey Mize
• Jason Foley (CL)
• Tyler Holton
• Will Vest
• Beau Brieske
• Brant Hurter
• Sean Guenther
• Brenan Hanifee
• Jackson Jobe
• Ty Madden

Position players

• Jake Rogers (C)
• Dillon Dingler (C)
• Spencer Torkelson (1B)
• Colt Keith (2B)
• Jace Jung (3B)
• Trey Sweeney (SS)
• Zach McKinstry (Inf)
• Andy Ibáñez (Inf)
• Matt Vierling ((Inf/OF)
• Riley Greene (OF)
• Parker Meadows (OF)
• Wenceel Pérez (RF)
• Kerry Carpenter (DH/OF)
• Justyn-Henry Malloy (DH)

When are the Tigers playoff games?

Now that the entire season is wrapped up for the Tigers, let's talk playoffs!

The Tigers are heading to Houston for a three-game series. The winner moves on to the American League Divisional Series.

Can the Tigers keep things rolling? They won't be playing under the lights. All three scheduled games will take place in the middle of the week at 2:32 p.m.

Game one: Tuesday, Oct. 1 on ABC

Game two: Wednesday, Oct. 2 on ABC

Game three (if necessary): Thursday, Oct. 3. on ABC

If the Tigers can find a way to win two of these games, they'll head to Cleveland for the American League Divisional Series.

Will the Tigers face Justin Verlander?

Before Tigers fans map out a Matthew Stafford-style playoff rematch with former ace Justin Verlander – it's not going to happen.

The future Hall of Famer is unlikely to pitch in the three-game Wild Card round. Verlander stands as fourth in the Houston rotation and would be held for the ALDS.

It would take a complete shuffle of starting pitchers by Houston or Verlander to come out of the bullpen. Neither of those things is going to happen.