The Detroit Tigers sent a strong message to the rest of Major League Baseball this week, overpowering the New York Yankees in back-to-back blowout wins. But while the team’s confidence is soaring, manager A.J. Hinch is keeping his players grounded with a blend of praise and constructive criticism.
Detroit followed Tuesday’s 12-2 rout with an 11-1 victory on Wednesday, marking the first time since 1993 that the Tigers have won consecutive games by double digits. The offense was relentless, led by home runs from Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, and Colt Keith, while Jack Flaherty silenced the Yankees’ bats with five scoreless innings.
Speaking after the game, Hinch highlighted how impressed he was with his players’ intensity and focus. “These guys showed what they’re capable of,” Hinch said. “The way they’re attacking at-bats, driving in runs, and keeping the pressure on late — that’s exactly how we want to play.”
Yet Hinch was quick to remind his roster that dominance in September doesn’t guarantee success in October. He pointed to small mistakes in execution and stressed the importance of maintaining discipline throughout nine innings. “We have to start stronger offensively,” Hinch explained. “Yes, we’ve been explosive late, but postseason games are won by capitalizing on every opportunity, early and late. Defensively, too, there are plays we have to clean up. The margin for error shrinks against elite teams.”
The Tigers’ surge comes at a crucial moment. With 33 runs scored over their last four contests, they’ve reclaimed the American League’s No. 1 seed after Toronto’s loss to Houston. But with only a half-game lead and the Blue Jays owning the head-to-head tiebreaker, Hinch knows the race is far from over.
Veteran players echoed their coach’s message. Riley Greene admitted, “It feels great to win like this, but A.J. is right — we can’t take anything for granted. Every game matters from here on out.”
Hinch’s leadership has been central to Detroit’s turnaround this season. Hired in 2020 to rebuild a struggling franchise, he has steered the Tigers into playoff contention with a mix of patience, accountability, and belief in the team’s young core.
Now, with momentum on their side, Hinch is urging the Tigers to keep refining their game. “Our ceiling is high, but the little things will decide how far we go,” he said. “We can enjoy this series win, but we have to keep getting better if we want to play deep into October.”
Detroit will look to finish off a sweep of the Yankees in the series finale today, before heading into another key matchup against the Miami Marlins.
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