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    • Detroit Tigers use bullpen to neutralize José Ramírez
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    Detroit Tigers use bullpen to neutralize José Ramírez

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    Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt made his first lineup change in Game 3 of the ALDS in response to AJ Hinch’s first call for the Detroit Tigers.

    Hinch pulled right-hander Keider Montero after retiring the first three Cleveland hitters on just six pitches. The Tigers manager turned to left-hander Brant Hurter to be in the middle of Cleveland’s batting order for the first time.

    Hurter gave up two hits before recording an out, but escaped the jam with three consecutive flyouts, including one for the second out to pinch-hitter Jhonkensy Noel, who replaced Will Brennan in right field before Brennan had a plate appearance. In the top of the third inning, Vogt went back to the bench and brought in right-hander David Fry to replace left-hander Kyle Manzardo, but Fry struck out trying to end the inning.

    “I can’t imagine,” catcher Jake Rogers said when asked how frustrating the Tigers’ pitching approach must be. “Montero has gone nine innings this year (in a start against the Colorado Rockies on Sept. 10). When he gets into it, you just have to prepare for him, and then all of a sudden here’s Hurter against some lefties. I don’t do that. ” I don’t know if you want lefties to see him and then there’s Noel pinch-hitting for Brennan, I’m sure it’s hard to do.

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    The bullpen strategy that has become the Tigers’ saving grace when top prospect Tarik Skubal has been unavailable for the past two months has worked again. Detroit shutout Cleveland for the second straight game (the highest tie in a single postseason in franchise history) by using six pitchers in nine innings. Hinch took advantage of the lineup to take away platoon advantages in Cleveland’s lineup. The 3-0 win in Game 3 of the ALDS put the Tigers at 2-1, one win away from an ALCS appearance.

    Hurter earned the title of bulk reliever on Wednesday, finishing second and throwing 3⅓ innings. He was the only Tigers pitcher to face the same batter more than once, with a second spin against the middle of Cleveland’s lineup, scattering five hits to prevent runs.

    Hinch said the start of the game was not scripted, but was played in a way that allowed him to immediately turn to the bullpen for Hurter to face Josh Naylor.

    “Keider had no idea at first and responded positively with an incredible first inning, with great energy on the ballpark and in an atmosphere like no other,” Hinch explained. “So if he gets three up and three down, we’ll have Hurter at Naylor for the start.”

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    The relievers have some idea of ​​when they can be used, but must remain alert in Comerica Park’s left-field bullpen in case Hinch calls them up at any time.

    “When I saw the lineup they had set up and knew our plan, I kind of knew how it was going to unfold,” Hurter said. “And it’s pretty cool that AJ was able to do that and take a lot of guys out of their lineup, burn a lot of guys by starting Keider and letting me come in.”

    Next up was right-hander Beau Brieske, who was used in every role from starter to closer during the Tigers’ run. Brieske, who had a save in Game 2, continued his strong start to the postseason. He replaced Hurter with one out in the fifth inning with runners on first and second base and struck out Fry with a slider in the mud, inducing a José Ramírez flyout to end the threat. From there, Brieske pitched a scoreless sixth and got the first out in the seventh before his day was over.

    “Beau comes in at a really big place,” Hinch said. “In a perfect world, I would love to bring these guys in, with a clean inning, a big lead, deep breaths and attacking guys they can match up with, and that never happens, especially not in October. So hitting is the key. From the first pitch at your best.”

    Brieske has now thrown 5⅓ scoreless innings in four relief appearances in five postseason games with six strikeouts, no hits allowed and two walks as one of Hinch’s favorite high-leverage right-handers.

    The strategy included making sure Ramírez, an All-Star who hit .279 with 39 home runs in the regular season, did not see the same pitcher twice. It worked, as Ramírez went 0-for-3 with an intentional walk.

    “Part of the way our roster is built and the reason we maximize our strengths is so we can do a lot of different things with hitters,” Hinch said. “It’s not easy to face four different guys, especially since I took one at-bat away from Ramírez, to your question. But you need the guys to do it, to throw strikes and rush the strike zone and get right behind to take on the guys and get them.” major outbursts.”

    Left-hander Sean Guenther was Hinch’s next call. He recorded one out before putting two on base with a walk and single allowed, and Hinch yanked him back to a right-hander in Will Vest. Fry turned on a fastball from Vest and sent a screamer down the third base line, but Matt Vierling was in position for a leaping grab to prevent the run.

    Vest pitched a scoreless eighth and capped his outing by striking out Lane Thomas on a controlled swing on a knee-high fastball. Vest waited for the home plate umpire’s call before breaking into a shouting and parading celebration back to the dugout as he received a standing ovation.

    “It was electric,” Vest said. “That’s what you dream about as a reliever: standing in those big spots, throwing a big hit to end the inning. And just passing it on to the next guy.”

    The next man up was the Tigers’ left-handed Swiss Army knife, Tyler Holton, the Game 1 starter. He didn’t hit an out in that game, but on Wednesday he produced a quick 1-2-3 ninth inning with two groundouts and a strikeout to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead in the series.

    “Everyone knows the roles and pockets and when to expect your name to be called,” Holton said of how the bullpen stays ready. “…It’s just preparation, so everyone’s doing their job and getting ready for when it could be them.”

    Much of that preparation comes from Hinch, pitching coach Chris Fetter and Rogers behind the plate. Holton said Rogers works with every pitcher in the bullpen and that rotation, not just the six used Wednesday, is critical for the Tigers to be able to play this way and get wins.

    “He can think about each of us individually in the situation because everyone throws differently,” Holton said. “But all of our catchers being out there, especially on bullpen days, is a testament to who we have behind the call signs, because that’s impressive.”

    And the coaching staff has complete confidence that every pitcher will go out and execute what he’s asked to do in every game situation.

    “Our guys understand they’ve been put in that position because anyone who wears the (old) English ‘D’ knows they can get the job done, and they keep responding,” Hinch said.

    Jared Ramsey is a sports reporter for the Detroit Free Press about the city’s professional teams, the state’s two flagship universities and more. Follow Jared on X @jared_ramsey22and email him at [email protected].

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