Detroit Tigers Manager AJ Hinch Breaks Silence on Trade Deadline Plans and Team’s Future

DETROIT — Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch is embracing the pressure of October baseball as his club stares down elimination in tonight’s Game 4 of the American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners at Comerica Park. After a 4-2 loss in Game 3 that hinged on an early outfield miscue, Hinch believes the path forward remains clear: “Win the next pitch, win the next inning, and we’ll worry about everything else later,” he told reporters after Tuesday’s defeat. Lineup reset after costly error Center fielder Riley Greene’s dropped fly ball in the third inning opened the door for three unearned runs, a moment Hinch called “a teachable mistake, not a fatal one.” The skipper hinted at at least one lineup tweak designed to spark an offense that has produced just five runs in the series. Expect right-handed power bat Colt Keith to slide up to the two-hole, with Javier Báez moving down to seventh to relieve pressure on the struggling shortstop. Hinch on the mound: No Skubal—yet Despite trailing 2-1 in the best-of-five series, Detroit does not plan to deploy ace left-hander Tarik Skubal on short rest, according to multiple team sources and confirmed by Hinch on Wednesday afternoon. Right-hander Reese Olson will get the ball opposite Seattle rookie flamethrower Bryce Miller. Should the Tigers force a decisive Game 5, Hinch indicated Skubal would “have the entire city behind him on Friday night.” Clubhouse confidence unwavering Detroit’s late-season surge from a July tailspin to an 89-win playoff berth was driven by what players describe as Hinch’s “steady heartbeat.” ESPN reported that veterans Miguel Cabrera and Mark Canha pointed to Hinch’s calm messaging as the clubhouse’s North Star during that run. “We’ve thrived with our backs against the wall all year,” outfielder Kerry Carpenter said. “It’s no different now.” Home-field advantage returns The Tigers expect a capacity crowd of more than 41,000, their first postseason home game since 2022. Hinch told local radio that returning to Detroit “matters in ways box scores can’t show,” citing the energy surge players felt during Tuesday’s pregame workout. Comerica Park’s left-center power alley—as well as the cooler October air—could play to Detroit’s pitching-first identity. What to watch tonight • Early pitch count: Olson must keep Seattle’s top-of-order trio—Julio Rodríguez, J.P. Crawford, Cal Raleigh—from turning over quickly. • Greene’s rebound: Hinch pledged “full confidence” in the 25-year-old Gold Glover, but a quick defensive gem or extra-base hit could reset the narrative. • Bullpen chess match: Look for Hinch to deploy setup man Shelby Miller as early as the fifth if Olson falters; Mariners manager Scott Servais countered with swingman Emerson Hancock in Game 2. Bottom line AJ Hinch built his reputation on strategic boldness and calm leadership. Tonight, both qualities collide on the October stage. If the Tigers execute his blueprint—clean defense, deep counts, shutdown bullpen—Detroit could be boarding a flight back to Seattle with the series suddenly level. If not, the 2025 campaign ends with unanswered questions about missed chances—a scenario Hinch insists his club refuses to entertain.