Guardians show no signs of rust and more takeaways from Game 1 of the MLB Division Series | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Their “pitching chaos” backfired

A big reason the Tigers are in the Division Series at all is because of how successfully manager AJ Hinch outsmarted the Houston Astros in the Wild Card Series.

Tarik Skubal’s six scoreless innings in Game 1 helped, but Hinch also got at least three outs from six other pitchers. None of these guys gave up a run either.

So it wasn’t the worst idea to deliberately go for a “Johnny Wholestaff” bullpen game on Saturday, with lefty reliever Tyler Holton serving as the opener. But such games always carry the risk that there are one or more vulnerabilities.

That risk initially affected Holton, as four of the five runs the Tigers gave up in the first inning came on his line. It also hit Ty Madden, who issued three walks and allowed two runs in the sixth inning.

The Wild Card Series and the fact that the Tigers finished 34-19 despite getting fewer than 200 innings from their starters are proof that there is a method to Hinch’s “pitching chaos” madness. But this time it just didn’t work.

Maybe next time just start with Reese Olson

Sure, Olson served up Thomas’ three-run home run on the first pitch he threw. Not a good start, it looks like.

But after that, the right-hander pitched five scoreless innings, giving up just two more hits and a walk. And he only needed 73 pitches to do it.

Given that he wasn’t particularly fit following his two-month stint on the disabled list on September 16, it’s understandable that the Tigers didn’t want to use Olson. Still, it’s not the biggest shock that he made such a good pitch. Before going to the IL, he was mostly outstanding with a 3.23 ERA over 19 starts.

If anyone is going to be Detroit’s second starter after Skubal, it should be Olson. The Tigers would do well to remember that next time.

Of course, this assumes there will be a next time.