Takeaways from Astros-Tigers Game 2: Andy Ibanez’s clutch double sends Detroit to ALDS

The remarkable journey of the 2024 Detroit Tigers continues.

On Wednesday, Detroit earned a 5-2 win over the Houston Astros in Game 2 of the wild-card Series to advance to the American League Division Series.

For Detroit, the victory marks the team’s first postseason series win since 2013 and sets up what should be a thrilling matchup against its AL Central rival Cleveland Guardians. For the Astros, who reached the ALCS in each of the last seven seasons, the loss raises many questions entering a pivotal offseason.

Here are three takeaways from Detroit’s win:

Tigers’ “pitching chaos” pays off 

After receiving a dominant outing from the seemingly soon-to-be AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal in Game 1, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters he planned on unleashing “pitching chaos” on Wednesday. While this was just Hinch’s amusing way of saying his team would be throwing a bullpen game, Detroit’s pitching staff fittingly caused chaos in Game 2. 

The Tigers bullpen pitched the most innings in the majors during the regular season (694), and the unit’s experience proved valuable on Wednesday. Detroit used seven different pitchers in the contest, combining to allow two runs on five hits and three walks while racking up five strikeouts.

It’s worth mentioning that Hinch made his lone mistake of the series in the seventh, calling on RHP Jackson Jobe, MLB Pipeline’s No. 6 prospect who only made his major league debut on Sept. 25. The 22-year-old recorded just one out, hitting a batter while allowing two hits and two earned runs. 

Nevertheless, the scrappy Tigers lineup once again showed their resilience, immediately responding by scoring four runs in the eighth inning, with the bullpen later hanging on to secure the win.

The Tigers are far from the most talented team in the postseason. However, to make a deep run in October, everyone needs to pitch in, and that’s precisely what Detroit’s players have done, not only in the wild-card Series but since August. With the momentum and cohesiveness the Tigers are playing with, the Guardians will have their work cut out for themselves in the ALDS. 

The backend of the bullpen ends Houston’s season

Houston received stellar pitching performances from right-handers Hunter Brown and Bryan Abreu on Wednesday, but it saw its season end exactly how it began, with the backend of the bullpen imploding.

Entering the regular season, the Astros bullpen was widely considered one of, if not the top unit in baseball after signing LHP Josh Hader to a five-year, $95M deal in January. However, Hader struggled mightily in his debut season with the Astros, posting a 3.80 ERA with four blown saves. Additionally, Ryan Pressly — a key piece of Houston’s bullpen since 2018 — took a massive step back in 2024, blowing eight saves, the second-most in the majors.

Ultimately, Pressly’s regular season struggles carried into the postseason, putting himself and Hader in a position to cough the lead back up to Detroit in the eighth inning. After striking out his first batter, Pressly then gave up two singles, with a run eventually scoring on a wild pitch. Pressly recorded his second strikeout but walked his next batter, prompting Astros manager Joe Espada to turn to Hader.

The five-time All-Star Hader walked the first batter he faced on four pitches to load the bases. Hinch subsequently brought in Andy Ibanez off the bench to face the Hader, and the utilityman promptly delivered the biggest hit in recent Tigers history, a bases-clearing double.