Live blog: Tigers playoff hopes whacked in 1-0 loss
Live blog: Tigers playoff hopes whacked in 1-0 loss
A baseball season known in Detroit for its episodic torture ended Sunday in a final exercise in pain as the Braves beat the Tigers, 1-0, at Turner Field, to officially extinguish the Tigers' 2016 playoff hopes.
Justin Verlander was nearly flawless but lost his third 1-0 game of the season. He was nicked for a run in the first inning, a fatal run for the Tigers who did nothing against Braves starter Julio Teheran and an Atlanta bullpen that put away the Tigers on five hits.
The Tigers stood to finish their 2016 season Monday at Comerica Park, all because of its potential effect on seedings and home-field advantage for either the Indians or Red Sox. The Indians will play in Detroit at 1:10 p.m. if the game is needed to decide between the Indians and Red Sox as owner of the American League's home-field edge.
Live blog: Verlander throwing a jewel, but down, 1-0
The Tigers were looking at one last shot to make the 2016 playoffs after another blank inning at Turner Field left the Braves on top, 1-0, heading into the bottom of the eighth.
Jose Iglesias got a leadoff double in the eighth, but after pinch-hitter Victor Martinez struck out, Iglesias was doubled off second on Ian Kinsler's line-out to shortstop Dansby Swanson.
Justin Verlander worked seven innings before he was lifted in the eighth for Martinez, who was Verlander's pinch-hitter.
Juliuo Teheran threw a marvelous seven innings for the Braves, striking out 12 Tigers batters.
Detroit has only four hits through eight innings, with Iglesias' double its only extra-base hit.
The Tigers were in need of winning today, with either the Orioles or Blue Jays losing, to have any shot at a post-season spot.
Live blog: Verlander throwing a jewel, but down, 1-0
The Tigers were running out of innings, batters, and time Sunday as the Braves hung onto their 1-0 lead at Turner Field.
Julio Teheran, starting for the Braves in Turner Field's finale as the Braves' home park, had held the Tigers to three singles through six innings.
Justin Verlander was pitching a lovely game for the Tigers, per his habit in 2016. He struck out six batters combined in the fifth and sixth, the last two coming with a Braves runner on first and one out in the sixth.
Verlander has eight strikeouts and has allowed five hits.
Live blog: Tigers not solving Teheran: 1-0, Braves
The Tigers were still scoreless through five innings Sunday at Turner Field. They've now scored three runs in 14 innings in the past two games against the Braves, which led Detroit, 1-0, in what could be a final four innings of playoff-eligible baseball for the Tigers.
The Tigers needed to win today, with either the Blue Jays or Orioles losing, to have any shot at the post-season. Both the Jays and Orioles were leading in their games against the Red Sox and Yankees.
The Tigers have only two hits against Braves starter Julio Teheran -- singles from Miguel Cabrera and Jose Iglesias.
Justin Verlander has five strikeouts for the Tigers. He has allowed five hits.
Live blog: Braves still up, 1-0, in third at Turner
It was still Julio Teheran with the edge Sunday over Justin Verlander through four innings at Turner Field, where the Braves led the Tigers, 1-0.
Detroit must win today to have any shot at a playoff spot. And the Tigers must have either the Orioles or Blue Jays lose.
Verlander was dinged for a run in the first but has since shut down the Braves on two hits. The Tigers, meanwhile, have a lone hit -- a leadoff single in the third from J.D. Martinez.
Live blog: Braves still up, 1-0, in third at Turner
It was going Atlanta's way in the early innings Sunday at Turner Field as Julio Teheran was putting away the Tigers and Justin Verlander was paying a price, initially anyway, for allowing the Braves a first-inning run.
The Braves held a 1-0 lead entering the bottom of the third. The Tigers had one quick shot at Teheran -- in the second when J.D. Martinez swatted a leadoff single and moved to second on a one-out walk to Nick Castellanos.
Teheran, though, got James McCann on a strikeout and then put away Jose Iglesias on a blooper that was gloved in center field by talented rookie shortstop Dansby Swanson.
Live blog: Tigers chasing playoffs, Braves say goodbye
As if the Tigers expected anything different, the Braves acted early Sunday as if they were the team playing frantically for a playoff spot as they tore into the Tigers for a 1-0 lead in the first.
A leadoff single by Ender Inciarte, a follow-up single to right from Adonis Garcia, and Freddie Freeman's sacrifice fly to center was good for a quick run that put the Tigers in a hole as the Braves cranked up the crowd in Turner Field's baseball finale.
The Tigers were vaporized in the first by Braves starter Julio Teheran, who threw his flaming fastball-slider combo past the first three hitters for strikeouts.
Live blog: Tigers chasing playoffs, Braves say goodbye
Drama for two teams this afternoon at Turner Field, which is hosting its final-ever Braves game ahead of a move to swank new facilities in 2017.
Justin Verlander was, per usual, the Tigers' best hope as Detroit and its bid to crack the 2016 post-season rested heavily in the right hand of Detroit's long-time rotation ace.
The Tigers must win today and hope either the Blue Jays or Orioles lose for their playoff dream to last another day and into Monday's scheduled regular-season finale against the Indians at Comerica Park.
The Tigers were facing tough Braves right-hander Julio Teheran in the Turner Field farewell.
Do or die
It’s a do-or-die situation for the Detroit Tigers, and even if they do, their postseason hopes might die anyway.
That’s because entering Sunday’s 3 p.m. game in Atlanta, the Tigers do not control their fate, following Saturday night’s 5-3 loss to the Braves.
The Tigers are 1.5 games behind Toronto and Baltimore in the AL wild-card standings. They have to win Sunday, and Monday in the makeup game against the Indians, to have a chance to make the playoffs.
The Blue Jays close the regular season Sunday in Boston and the Orioles finish at the Yankees.
TIGERS LINEUP
1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Cameron Maybin, CF
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. J.D. Martinez, RF
5. Justin Upton, LF
6. Nick Castellanos, 3B
7. James McCann, C
8. Jose Iglesias, SS
9. Justin Verlander, P
BRAVES LINEUP
1. Ender Inciarte, CF
2. Adonis Garcia, 3B
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Matt Kemp, LF
5. Nick Markakis, RF
6. Tyler Flowers, C
7. Jace Peterson, 2B
8. Dansby Swanson, SS
9. Julio Teheran, P
Tigers must win out, get help to make playoffs
TIGERS VS. BRAVES
When: Sunday, 3:10 p.m.
Where: Turner Field, Atlanta
Pitching matchup: RHP Justin Verlander (16-8, 3.10) vs. RHP Julio Teheran (6-10, 3.33)
Local TV: Fox Sports Detroit
National TV: None
Internet streaming: MLB.TV
Local radio: 97.1 FM
Satellite radio: SIRI Internet 849