MLB playoff results, live updates: Tigers and Astros open wild-card round in 2024 postseason

The Tigers may not have plans to beat any of their opponents this October, but they have found ways to score consistently throughout their stunning rise to the postseason, and that continued early in Game 1. RBI singles from Jake Rogers, Trey Sweeney and Matt Vierling Detroit grabbed an early 3-0 lead – one that feels much larger with Tarik Skubal on the mound.

The Astros finally made Skubal sweat early in the fourth, forcing him to throw 29 pitches to five batters, but Houston was unable to capitalize on the opportunity as Skubal struck out Jeremy Peña and Victor Caratini with runners on first and second base.

With Skubal striking out 62 pitches in four innings, it will be interesting to see how long Detroit is willing to ride its ace with a scheduled bullpen day coming up in Game 2 tomorrow. Skubal has only surpassed 100 pitches four times per season this season. In his last start of the regular season on September 24, he hit a high of 103 throws. Don't be surprised if the big left-hander hits a similar pitch at the end of this outing.