Starting pitchers: Tigers LHP Tyler Holton (7-2, 2.19 ERA) vs. Astros RHP Hunter Brown (11-9, 3.49 ERA).
LAST GAME: Tarik Skubal, MLB's youngest team handle Astros and playoff pressure in Tigers Game 1 win
Must listen podcast: Tigers-Astros series debate, with Tigers beat writer Evan Petzold (Detroit Free Press), Mark Gorosh and Astros beat writer Chandler Rome (The Athletic). Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify).
Game notes: So that's how playoff baseball feels?
If your palms were sweating, heart was beating and brain was running through all the worse-case scenarios in the bottom of the ninth of Tuesday's wild-card series opener against the Astros, you were not alone.
As if a best-of-three series isn't stressful enough, the Tigers took things to the next level with a heart-pumping ninth inning in Game 1. The Tigers were able to jump out to a 3-0 lead early and then rode dominant pitching from Tarik Skubal, Will Vest and Tyler Holton into the ninth inning. Enter Jason Foley, the team's de facto closer who entered the playoffs red-hot, but immediately got off to a shaky start. Before the Tigers knew it, their lead had been trimmed to 3-1 and there were runners on second and third.
Once again, reliever Beau Brieske came through in a high-leverage situation, forcing a line drive from Jason Heyward that easily could've scored both runs had it not gone right to first baseman Spencer Torkelson. Ball game, Tigers win.
Wednesday shouldn't be any less stressful for Hinch and the Tigers, as they have the opportunity to eliminate the Astros from the playoffs, ending their seven year streak in the ALCS and advancing to the ALDS to face the Cleveland Guardians. Expect both teams to pull out all the stops.
After facing just one batter Tuesday, Holton will move from the end of the game to the start of the game for the Tigers, facing the top of the Astros lineup before giving way to a bulk reliever.
For the Astros, Michigan native and Wayne State alum Hunter Brown will make the start. Brown hasn't pitched since Sept. 23 and should be fresh against a Tigers team looking to continue making the impossible possible.
If the Astros beat the Tigers Wednesday, the two squads will meet again Thursday at the same time for an elimination game.
REQUIRED READING: Tigers' Tarik Skubal beat Houston one fastball, one breath, and one howl at a time
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers vs Astros playoffs today: Time, TV for Game 2 of wild card