The Tigers didn't just win Wednesday to force Game 5 against the Mariners. They set up Tarik Skubal to send them to the ALCS.
"Sitting in my chair, one of the easiest things to do and one of the most exciting things to do is hand the ball to the best pitcher in baseball," A.J. Hinch said after the Tigers came back to win Game 4.
Skubal will be on the mound Friday night in Seattle. The reigning Cy Young winner will have a chance to win the series and a shot at redemption after he lost Game 5 of the ALDS last year in Cleveland -- not that he's looking at it that way.
"I'll let you guys create the narrative," Skubal said. "I'm just going to do what I do best, and that's play baseball and create pitches."
But make no mistake: Skubal, who's as competitive as they come, is fired up for the moment.
"This is what competition is all about. This is why you play the game, for Game 5's. ... I think that that's going to bring out the best in everyone involved, and that's why this game is so beautiful. We're going to be able to go experience that on Friday," he said.
Skubal allowed two runs and struck out nine in Game 2 of the ALDS, which the Mariners won 3-2. He has a 2.14 ERA in five career postseason starts, all of which have come on the road.
"Tarik's going to go out there and do his thing," said Javy Baez, one of the stars of Game 4 for the Tigers. "He pitched a really good game last time and we didn't hit. We didn't respond. I think when we have games like this, it's a little comfortable for him to keep his plan and keep attacking the hitters and give us the victory."
The Mariners, though, have given Skubal some trouble this season. They got him for four runs in five innings in a 12-3 win in July, and three runs in 5 2/3 innings in a 3-2 win in April. Jorge Polanco homered twice off Skubal in Game 2 of the ALDS.
"I think we've been able to get to Skubal throughout," Mariners manager Dan Wilson said after Wednesday's game, "and we have another chance to do that on Friday. Offensively, we've done some really good things in this series and continued to do some of those things today. So we will certainly be ready on Friday."
Skubal won the American League pitching triple crown last year and was even better this year, with a 2.21 ERA and 241 strikeouts. His 0.891 WHIP was the best in the majors.
"This guy should have more hardware on his mantel, and he's going to be recognized because of the work that he's done during the season, but he's so prepared for this moment," said Hinch. "He's obviously somebody deeply trusted in our clubhouse to bring intensity, to bring high-end pitching, and to bring results. We win together, we lose together, but he leads us. He's a big presence going into Game 5.
"As we get on this plane to go across the country, we've got a lot of optimism heading that way because of the presence of Tarik Skubal."
For Skubal, the approach in the biggest game of the season will be pretty simple: rare back and let it rip.
"The game stays the game, and that's what you're going to hear me reiterate," he said. "I just need to be focused pitch by pitch and execute the game plan that we will create."