news

Time, TV for wildcard Game 2

Vaseline October 2, 2024

What: Game 2 of the MLB Playoffs American League Wild Card Series.

When: Wednesday 2:32 pm.

Where: Minute Maid Park in Houston.

TV: ABC.

Live stream: On Fubo (free trial).

Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1) in Detroit (Tigers radio affiliates); nationally on ESPN Radio.

Starting pitchers: Tigers LHP Tyler Holton (7-2, 2.19 ERA) vs. Astros RHP Hunter Brown (11-9, 3.49 ERA).

Back on the first pitch: 92 degrees (climate controlled with retractable roof).

Watch Tigers-Astros on Fubo (Free Trial)

• Box score

FOLLOW LIVE: Tigers vs. Astros score today, highlights from Game 2

Tigers Line-up Game 2:

Parker Meadows, C.F
Kerry Timmerman, DH
Matt Vierling, RF
Riley Greene, L.F
Foal Keith, 2B
Spencer Torkelson, 1B
Zach McKinstry, 3B
Trey Sweeney, SS
Jake Rogers, C

Astros lineup Game 2:

1. Jose Altuve, 2B

2. Kyle Tucker, RF

3. Jordanan 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

FINAL GAME: MLB’s Youngest Team’s Tarik Skubal Copes with Astros and Playoff Pressure in Tigers Game 1 Win

Podcast must listen: Tigers-Astros series debate, with Tigers beating writer Evan Petzold (Detroit Free Press), Mark Gorosh and Astros writer Chandler Rome (The Athletic). Make ‘Days of Roar’ your favorite Tigers podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify).

Game Notes: So this is what playoff baseball feels like?

If your palms were sweating, your heart was racing and your brain was running through all the worst-case scenarios in the bottom of the ninth of Tuesday’s wild-card series opener against the Astros, you weren’t alone.

As if a best-of-three series wasn’t stressful enough, the Tigers took things to the next level with a thrilling ninth inning in Game 1. The Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead early and then rode a dominant pitching from Tarik Skubal, Will Vest and Tyler Holton into the ninth inning. Enter Jason Foley, the team’s de facto closer who entered the playoffs red hot, but immediately got off to a shaky start. Before the Tigers knew it, their lead was cut to 3-1 and there were runners on second and third base.

Once again, reliever Beau Brieske came through in a high-leverage situation, forcing a line drive from Jason Heyward that easily could have scored both runs had it not gone straight to first baseman Spencer Torkelson. Ball game, Tigers win.

Wednesday’s Game 2 should be no less stressful for Hinch and the Tigers, as they have a chance to eliminate the Astros from the playoffs, end their seven-year streak in the ALCS and advance to the ALDS to take on the Cleveland Guardians. Expect both teams to pull out all the stops.

After facing just one batter on Tuesday, Holton will go from the end of the game to the start of the game for the Tigers, facing the top of the Astros lineup before making way for a bulk reliever.

For the Astros, Michigan native and Wayne State alum Hunter Brown will make the start. Brown hasn’t pitched since September 23 and should be fresh against a Tigers team that wants to continue making the impossible possible.

If the Astros beat the Tigers, the teams will meet again on Thursday afternoon for an elimination game.

REQUIRED READING: Tigers’ Tarik Skubal defeated Houston one fastball, one breath and one howl at a time