Jack Flaherty looked helpless, sitting in the dugout with his elbows on his knees and his eyes locked on the field. It was the fourth inning, and Tommy Kahnle was on the mound trying to clean the mess that he had left behind. Two outs, runner on second. Cal Raleigh stepped up, and one pitch later, he ripped a changeup into center field, adding to the Mariners’ run and another crack in the Tigers’ postseason.

The Tigers lost 8-4 to the Mariners, and that night felt heavier than the scoreboard. Comerica Park had gone completely silent, and the silence was something one couldn’t miss. It has, after all, been over a month since Detroit last won at home. Last was September 6, to be exact, and now with their backs against the wall, they have to find that spark in Game 4 or it’s done for them.

This time, it’s do or die for them, and AJ Hinch, believe it or not, seems drained. Speaking to Tom Verducci, he said, “It’s gonna be stressful, there’s gonna be some anxious emotions, and you’re gonna have to make decisions quickly. But you have to love it—this is why you play in October. Today, it’s win or go home.”

That “go home” part is harder than ever for the Detroit Tigers fans. Truthfully, though, they had every chance to flip the game, but they didn’t. This is because the errors and the missed chances completely flipped their story. There was a throwing blunder by Riley Greene in the third that opened the door for the Mariners’ first run. Then the Suarez monster 422-foot homer in the fourth made it even worse. Then came the mistake that summed it all up—Merry Carpenter dropping a routine fly ball in the right field.

Flaherty’s night ended just after 3⅓ innings, and he gave up four runs, three of them earned. His frustration was clearly visible. But honestly, the Tigers’ problems ran way deeper. The bats were silent until the ninth inning, and when Spencer Torkelson and Andy Ibáñez tried to rally, it was a little too late. Now, as they brace for the do-or-die, the Tigers will turn to Casey Mize to save their season!

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Casey Mize embraces pressure to keep Tigers season alive

Right now, leading the pack into the Game 4 battle is none other than right-hander Casey Mize—the one who is about to make the biggest start of his career so far. Mize, who is 28 years old, knows the pressure on his shoulder but is not shying away from the moment now. “I play to win. That’s what I care about the most. I love to prepare and compete, but winning is what I like to do the most,” he said before the brutal loss on Tuesday, which put the team in the precarious situation they are now.

Just a week ago, Mize was getting his first taste of postseason baseball with the Detroit Tigers. In the AL Wild Card series against the Guardians, he allowed one run over three innings. It was for sure a short outing, but it was a meaningful one. Now with certain experience under his belt, he is stepping in at a time when the team needs him most. However, he seems locked in and confident to face what’s to come.

It’s honestly a comeback season for him because he missed all of 2023 due to his Tommy John surgery. He then returned better and posted a 3.87 ERA across 28 starts, and he even earned his first All-Star nod. The Tigers’ way to Game 4 has not been easy—a win in Game 1 followed by back-to-back losses and that rough outing by Flaherty in Game 3! But the team seems confident, and maybe they can get just this one win and get going for Game 5.