Despite injury woes and a quiet offense, Detroit remains in the postseason hunt as Dillon Dingler’s power and favorable scoreboard results soften a tough West Coast setback.
Riding a four-game winning streak, the Detroit Tigers had surged back within 1.5 games of a playoff berth, pushing their postseason odds back up to 24%.
But as in life and baseball, all good things must come to an end.
That saying has hit Tigers fans especially hard this week after losing both Casey Mize and two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal within a 72-hour span. While those losses stung, the Tigers continued to win games, making the injuries easier to stomach. That feeling, however, came to a screeching halt Wednesday night.
Detroit entered the contest in the middle of a nine-game West Coast road trip, having won the first four games of the swing and looking to keep the momentum rolling. Seattle had other plans. In a game dominated by outstanding pitching, just a few costly mistakes ultimately decided the outcome.
The Tigers fell 4-2 after being out-homered by the Mariners, but the loss wasn't as damaging as it could have been. The Cleveland Guardians also lost, dropping out of the final American League Wild Card spot and allowing the 57-58 Texas Rangers to move into playoff position. Detroit remains just 1.5 games out of a Wild Card berth and, thanks to another White Sox loss, sits only 4.5 games behind in the division race.
Even in defeat, there are still stars to hand out, so let's dive into the top three performers from Wednesday night's loss.
Third Star – Detroit Tigers Fans
Cop out? Maybe.
I could have given this spot to Drew Anderson after he turned in 3.2 solid innings in relief, but instead this one belongs to Tigers fans.
Not only did they stay up late on the East Coast to watch their team lose, they also had to endure another frustrating night offensively. Fortunately, the out-of-town scoreboard offered a bit of relief. Both the Guardians and White Sox suffered losses, preventing Detroit from losing any significant ground in either the Wild Card or division races.
In a playoff chase this tight, a loss can feel like a two-game swing if the teams around you win. Thankfully for Detroit, nearly every contender that mattered also came up short, making this one a little easier to swallow.
Second Star – Max Clark
Clark didn't exactly fill up the stat sheet. In fact, he made the final out of the game.
Still, when your offense manages only three hits, recording one of them goes a long way.
The 21-year-old phenom singled in the seventh inning and also reached base after being hit by a pitch in the fourth. It wasn't a breakout performance, but Clark found a way to get on base twice in an otherwise quiet night for the Tigers' lineup.
When you're one of only three Tigers to record a hit, that's enough to earn the second star.
First Star – Dillon Dingler
When the Tigers need a spark, Dillon Dingler has become the man to provide it.
Trailing 3-0 in the eighth inning, Dingler crushed his team-leading 25th home run of the season. He turned on a pitch low in the strike zone and knew he got it immediately, driving it deep to center field for a two-run blast that suddenly brought Detroit back within one run after Gleyber Torres had reached base by being hit by a pitch.
Earlier in the game, Dingler added a fourth-inning single, though it was overshadowed when Torres was thrown out trying to advance from first to third.
Despite the loss, Dingler finished 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs, one run scored and a walk, once again proving why he's become one of Detroit's most reliable offensive weapons.
Notes
Benches Clear After Hit By Pitch
The game's most heated moment came in the late innings.
Detroit's Emmanuel De Jesus accidentally hit Cal Raleigh with a pitch in the seventh inning, and it was obvious there was no intent behind it. De Jesus immediately turned away with a facial expression that seemed to say, "I didn't mean to do that."
Seattle apparently didn't see it the same way.
In the eighth inning, the Mariners appeared to retaliate by pitching inside to Gleyber Torres. After missing with the first attempt, Torres was hit on the second pitch, prompting both benches to clear. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed, no punches were thrown, and the situation was quickly diffused.
I like the structure and voice of this one. Once you confirm the correct final score (3-0 or 4-2) and the Dingler stat line, it'll be ready to publish.
