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Tigers set playoff roster vs. Astros: Jackson Jobe makes 26-man group for wild-card series
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- Tigers set playoff roster vs. Astros: Jackson Jobe makes 26-man group for wild-card series
HOUSTON — The Detroit Tigers have finalized their 26-man MLB playoff roster for the American League wild-card series against the Houston Astros , which begins Tuesday (2:32 p.m., ABC) .
There weren't really too many surprises in the Tigers' roster for the wild-card round, with pitchers Kenta Maeda and Keider Montero getting left off the roster for the series with the Astros days after pitching in the season finale.
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Jackson Jobe, MLB's top pitching prospect, has made the Tigers' roster. Jobe, a dynamic 22-year-old right-hander and No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 MLB draft, made his major-league debut Wednesday , and has pitched four scoreless innings of relief across two games.
In addition to Jobe, multiple other rookies who looked to be on the bubble made the final wild-card roster, including right-handed hitter Justyn-Henry Malloy , left-handed third baseman Jace Jung and right-handed pitcher Ty Madden.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch , more than anything, wants a collection of position players that will allow him to mix and match, using pinch hitters, moving players all over the field if necessary, trying to squeeze everything out of every at bat in the best-of-three matchup against the Astros.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe (21) throws against Chicago White Sox during the second inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
And he wants pitchers who can be used in creative, unpredictable ways.
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Tarik Skubal will start in Game 1 on Tuesday but Hinch has not said what his pitching plan is after that.
"Our plan, to give you a brief overview, is Tarik Skubal (Tuesday) and pitching chaos the rest of the way, which is kind of how it's been the last two months," Hinch said Monday afternoon during his news conference at Minute Maid Park. "Our players buy in."
Meanwhile, former Tigers ace Justin Verlander was not placed on the Astros wild-card roster , removing the possibility for a playoff matchup with his former team.
Teams are allowed to carry a maximum of 13 pitchers and can change their roster before every series in the playoffs, if they advance.
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Here is the Tigers' 26-man postseason roster for the wild-card series vs. the Astros :
Catchers (2)
Jake Rogers and Dillon Dingler .
Infielders (7)
Andy Ibáñez (2B/3B), Colt Keith (2B), Jace Jung (3B), Zach McKinstry (UTIL), Trey Sweeney (SS), Spencer Torkelson (1B), Matt Vierling (3B/OF).
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Outfielders (5)
Riley Greene (OF), Parker Meadows (CF), Kerry Carpenter (OF/DH), Wenceel Pérez (OF), Justyn-Henry Malloy (DH/OF).
Pitchers (12)
Beau Brieske (RHP), Jason Foley (RHP), Sean Guenther (LHP), Brenan Hanifee (RHP), Tyler Holton (LHP), Brant Hurter (LHP), Jackson Jobe (RHP), Ty Madden (RHP), Casey Mize (RHP), Reese Olson (RHP), Tarik Skubal (LHP), Will Vest (RHP).
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Left off Tigers roster
Akil Baddoo (OF), Kenta Maeda (RHP), Keider Montero (RHP).
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com . Follow him on X @seideljeff . To read his recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/jeff-seidel .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers playoff roster vs Astros: Meet their 26-man group for wild card
