<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-news-javier-baez-gets-real-on-fan-frustration-before-bonkers-game-4-comeback');   ga('set', 'title', 'Tigers’ Javier Baez gets real on fan frustration before bonkers Game 4 comeback');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Tigers-fans.jpg?w=1024"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Tigers’ Javier Baez gets real on fan frustration before bonkers Game 4 comeback</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-08T17:47:49-07:00">October 8th, 5:47pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-08T17:47:49-07:00">October 8th, 5:47pm</time><address><a href="https://linktr.ee/jordan.llanes">Jordan Llanes</a>Jordan Llanes is a sports writer and reporter based in Florida. In addition to ClutchPoints, he writes for a few other publications covering the NFL, college sports and Tottenham Hotspur. When he's not writing, Jordan enjoys spending time with his fiancée, cats, family and friends, as well as catching the latest TV shows and movies, and traveling.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Detroit Tigers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>On the ropes entering the bottom of the fifth inning, the Detroit <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-news-javier-baez-riley-greene-lead-comeback-in-game-4-vs-mariners">Tigers’ season looked to be</a> on the brink. Down 3-0 to the AL West champion Seattle Mariners, the Tigers’ bats needed to wake up, and fast. However, the home team finally broke through against the Mariners’ pitching staff. Three runs in the fifth tied the fourth game of Detroit and Seattle’s AL Division Series (ALDS) Game 4. From there, the Tigers continued to pounce. After the win, Detroit shortstop Javier Baez commented on <a href="https://x.com/evanwoodbery/status/1976061559760728317" rel="noopener">the boos from the fans</a> at Comerica Park. Team beat reporter Evan Woodbury shared Baez’s mindset via X, formerly Twitter.</p><p>“The boos, I don’t mind,” Baez commented postgame. “I mean, I’ve heard boos all my career. You’ve got to let the fans be fans, you know?”</p><p>The fans’ boos were warranted in the first few innings. Mariners starter Bryce Miller cruised through the first four frames, only allowing two hits. However, the fifth was a different story. After a single from Spencer Torkelson and a fielder’s choice from Zach McKinstry, catcher Dillon Dingler drove in McKinstry with a double. After Miller departed, reliever Gabe Speier allowed consecutive hits to pinch-hitter Jahmai Jones and Baez to tie the game at 3. From there, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-news-detroit-accomplishes-feat-first-time-1968-alds-game-4-mariners">it was all Tigers.</a> Can the offense sustain this momentum back in Seattle to punch a ticket to the AL Championship Series (ALCS)?</p><h2><b>Tigers look to capture ALDS Game 5, advance to ALCS</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Tigers-SS-Javier-Baez-1.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-news-javier-baez-tagged-al-second-half-lvp-brutal-collapse">Baez had his best season</a> with the Tigers so far, four years into a massive six-year, $140 million deal signed before the 2022 season. His first three seasons with Detroit have been filled with disappointment. However, 2025 has seen the man also known as “El Mago” show flashes of his former self. During this postseason run, the shortstop has hit .318 from the bottom of the lineup.</p><p>Can Baez’s postseason experience (42 games so far, including his World Series run with the Chicago Cubs in 2016) continue to bolster the Tigers’ lineup? Game 5 in Seattle is for all the marbles. The Mariners haven’t made it to the ALCS since 2001, their best season in franchise history. Detroit hasn’t been since 2013. Which one of these long-suffering franchises will break their current drought and return to the ALCS? Baez and the Wild Card <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-news-aj-hinch-is-confident-detroit-is-ready-to-fend-off-elimination-vs-mariners">Tigers will work to ensure</a> they win their second game at T-Mobile Field on Friday.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Tigers’ Javier Baez gets real on fan frustration before bonkers Game 4 comeback

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-news-javier-baez-riley-greene-lead-comeback-in-game-4-vs-mariners');   ga('set', 'title', 'Tigers’ Javier Baez, Riley Greene lead middle-inning comeback in Game 4 vs. Mariners');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Javier-Baez-Riley-Greene-lead-middle-inning-comeback-in-Game-4-vs.-Mariners.jpg"><figcaption>Credit: Eric Seals</figcaption></figure><h1>Tigers’ Javier Baez, Riley Greene lead middle-inning comeback in Game 4 vs. Mariners</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-10-08T15:16:57-07:00">October 8th, 3:16pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-10-08T15:16:57-07:00">October 8th, 3:16pm</time><address><a href="https://www.facebook.com/chris.spiering.3" rel="facebook">Chris Spiering</a>Chris Spiering graduated from the University of San Diego with a Communication Studies Degree. He spent his final year as the Sports Editor for the USDVista newspaper. Chris used to manage the betting team at ClutchPoints and now contributes about the NFL, MLB, NCAA Sports, and NBA, but he follows most sports, including NCAA Basketball. Chris also covers San Diego State men's basketball for East Village Times.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Detroit Tigers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Facing elimination, the Detroit Tigers used their bats to keep themselves alive. The Tigers took down the Seattle Mariners in Game 4, 9-3, after trailing 3-0 to begin the contest.</p><p>Manager AJ Hinch knew that this would happen for his team, and he was <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-news-aj-hinch-is-confident-detroit-is-ready-to-fend-off-elimination-vs-mariners">confident in his players fending off elimination</a>.</p><p>The Mariners scored in the 2, 3rd, and 5th innings to lead 3-0. Then, in the bottom of the 5th inning, the Tigers exploded. A bunch of base hits from the entire lineup allowed them to tie the game at three.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Riley Greene gives the Tigers the lead 🔥<a href="https://t.co/D4fWVjDGmC">pic.twitter.com/D4fWVjDGmC</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1976032482303836274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>Then in the 6th, Riley Greene started off the fireworks with a solo home run.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Riley Greene gives the Tigers the lead 🔥<a href="https://t.co/D4fWVjDGmC">pic.twitter.com/D4fWVjDGmC</a></p><p>— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1976032482303836274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>Then, after an RBI single from Zach McKinstry to score Spencer Torkleson, Javier Baez smashed a two-run home run to really get the crowd going.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="fi">LIFT OFF 🚀</p><p>JAVIER BÁEZ TO THE MOON 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/0AoX4IBNlz">pic.twitter.com/0AoX4IBNlz</a></p><p>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1976035435119055228?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><p>Gleyber Torres followed with a home run in the 8th. There was nothing the Mariners could do with the lack of momentum. The Tigers needed some home cooking to stay alive, and they got it.</p><p>Baez, Greene, and Torres have been very good for the Tigers all season long. Their clutch hitting has propelled this team as one of the best in baseball, and it seems they have their groove back after losing it toward the end of the regular season.</p><p>The Tigers will now turn to <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-news-aj-hinch-reveals-tarik-skubal-plan-ahead-of-game-4">Tarik Skubal for Game 5.</a> They will have their ace on the mound and hope that he can pitch another gem for the Tigers to give them enough to advance to the ALCS. The Tigers would then await the winner of the Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees ALDS series.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Tigers’ Javier Baez, Riley Greene lead middle-inning comeback in Game 4 vs. Mariners

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-news-javier-baez-tagged-al-second-half-lvp-brutal-collapse');   ga('set', 'title', 'Tigers’ Javier Baez tagged as AL’s second-half “LVP” after brutal collapse');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Tigers-shortstop-Javier-Baez-vs-Guardians.jpg"><figcaption>David Richard-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Tigers’ Javier Baez tagged as AL’s second-half “LVP” after brutal collapse</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-26T10:44:25-07:00">September 26th, 10:44am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-26T10:44:25-07:00">September 26th, 10:44am</time><address><a>Yasmin Edañol</a>Yasmin D.G. Edañol is a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines Diliman, with a background in scientific research and publishing. He brings a data-driven perspective to sports storytelling as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with a focus on the NBA. Whether it's breaking down a clutch play or a stat line, he believes every great moment has a deeper layer waiting to be uncovered.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Detroit Tigers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Detroit Tigers have <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-news-detroit-staying-positive-after-breaking-8-game-slide-tying-al-central-lead">watched their once-promising season unravel</a>, and Javier Baez has become the face of that collapse. The veteran shortstop was once celebrated for flair and highlight-reel plays. Now he finds himself tagged as the American League’s <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6663004/2025/09/26/mlb-awards-2025-mvp-cy-young-rookies/?source=emp_shared_article" rel="noopener">second-half “LVP.”</a> For the Tigers, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-news-javier-baezs-all-star-selection-draws-no-shortage-heartwarming-reactions">Javier Baez was expected to carry momentum after earning an All-Star nod</a>. Instead, his performance since the break has symbolized the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-news-a-j-hinch-drops-focus-take-amid-15-5-game-al-central-collapse">Tigers’ slide from dominance</a>. In the middle of <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-news-aj-hinch-gets-brutally-honest-on-detroits-painful-reality">a division race that mirrored the chaos of the NL Central</a>, Detroit stumbled badly. Their <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-most-to-blame-al-central-collapse-guardians">hopes of reaching the MLB postseason remain alive</a>, but never more precarious than now.</p><p>Baez’s numbers tell the story of his decline. Since the All-Star break, he has posted a slash line barely recognizable from his prime years. He is hitting just over .200 with almost no power. The struggles extend across the board. He has produced only one home run in more than two months. He has paired that with a startling strikeout-to-walk imbalance that has frustrated coaches and fans alike. While the Tigers surged early in the year, Baez’s cold bat has lined up with their steep drop in the standings. It is the type of slide that transforms an All-Star starter into an emblem of disappointment.</p><p>Even more alarming is how little Baez has offered on the road. His batting line dips even further into uncharted territory when Detroit plays away from home. His inability to deliver outside Comerica Park has turned every road series into a grind. The Tigers could not overcome it. What once looked like a revived season has instead become defined by a long drought at the plate. His impact in big moments has vanished. As the collapse deepened, Baez became impossible to defend in LVP debates.</p><p>The Tigers now sit at the edge of the playoff picture in the NL Central. The narrative surrounding Baez has become unavoidable. He was once a sparkplug in Chicago. In Detroit, he has instead become a cautionary tale. Fans hoped he would lead during a year when the team pushed toward the MLB postseason. His production cratered at the worst possible time. In a season where collapses and awards intersect, Javier Baez earned his unwanted label. Detroit’s story of promise undone mirrors his own decline. The question lingers whether he can ever recover his old magic in a Tigers uniform.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Tigers’ Javier Baez tagged as AL’s second-half “LVP” after brutal collapse

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-news-why-javier-baez-not-playing-crucial-game-vs-guardians');   ga('set', 'title', 'Why Tigers’ Javier Baez is not playing in crucial game vs. Guardians');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Javier-Baez-swings-the-bat.jpg"><figcaption>Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><h1>Why Tigers’ Javier Baez is not playing in crucial game vs. Guardians</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-23T15:51:11-07:00">September 23rd, 3:51pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-23T15:54:49-07:00">September 23rd, 3:54pm</time><address><a>Alex House</a>Alex House is a sports journalist who covers the NFL, NBA, and MLB for ClutchPoints. He grew up in a New York sports-heavy region in Connecticut and earned his journalism degree at the University of Rhode Island. His in-depth knowledge of two of the most passionate and raucous fan bases in the country gives him a truly unique writing voice.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Detroit Tigers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Detroit Tigers fans can usually expect a win when Tarik Skubal pitches, but that has not been the case the last two times out. This ballclub is in the midst of a <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-news-tigers-aj-hinch-still-not-panicking-amid-potential-al-central-collapse">slump so severe</a> that not even the reigning American League Cy Young may be enough to guarantee a victory in Tuesday night’s <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/mlb-stories/3-bold-predictions-tigers-guardians-series-al-central-push">huge showdown with the surging Cleveland Guardians</a>. Offensive firepower is needed. Well, it will not come in the form of Javier Baez.</p><p>The All-Star utility man has been <a href="https://x.com/tigers/status/1970610909807554829" rel="noopener">scratched from the lineup</a> due to neck stiffness, per the team’s X account. Baez is struggling profusely in September, slashing a shocking .111/.138/.185/.323 in 27 at-bats. He has just one extra-base hit this month, making him a difficult player to trust during this dire time. However, he is still capable of launching the ball over the fence on a given night and boasts more experience than any other position player on this squad.</p><p>More so, the man knows what it takes to win big games. He enjoyed a monumental World Series run with the drought-ending Chicago Cubs in 2016 and could feel equipped to handle the pressure. A former National League Championship Series MVP is a good person to call upon when you are fighting for your playoff life. Alas, the Tigers will have to press on without him for the series opener.</p><h2><b>The Tigers are at a crossroads </b></h2><p>Detroit (85-71) has seen its 15-and-a-half-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians (July) nearly disappear, as it currently holds just a one-game lead in the AL Central. AJ Hinch’s club is also only one game clear of the last slot in the AL Wild Card race. This is no time for misfortune.</p><p>The good news is that the Tigers have plenty of hitters who have proven they can get the job done throughout the 2025 campaign. This group is at its best when it strings together hits and wears down its opponent with its signature resilience. That will need to be on full display in Progressive Field.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Why Tigers’ Javier Baez is not playing in crucial game vs. Guardians

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-news-javier-baez-injury-feeling-like-a-boxer');   ga('set', 'title', 'Javier Baez’s injury has him feeling ‘like a boxer’');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Javier-Baez_75ea4a.jpg"><figcaption>Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Javier Baez’s injury has him feeling ‘like a boxer’</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-09-13T13:15:26-07:00">September 13th, 1:15pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-09-13T14:54:21-07:00">September 13th, 2:54pm</time><address><a>Mike Gianakos</a>Mike Gianakos is the former editor-in-chief of High Times magazine, where he also spearheaded the video department and event production. He is a longtime podcaster and even longer suffering NY Jets fan.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Detroit Tigers</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The Detroit Tigers dropped the series opener against the Miami Marlins on Friday, and it appeared the 8-2 loss would be costly to the team. Two Tigers exited the game with injuries as Tarik Skubal left with tightness in the fourth inning and <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-news-javier-baez-exits-marlins-game-taking-foul-ball-face">Javier Baez fouled a ball off his face</a> in his first at-bat.</p><p>Thankfully, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-news-javier-baez-avoids-worst-scenario-scary-injury">Baez avoided a serious injury</a>. After the game, manager A.J. Hinch said the 12th-year veteran was day-to-day and wouldn’t be placed in the concussion protocol.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="es">Javier Baez injury <a href="https://t.co/RzY3wLLqqX">pic.twitter.com/RzY3wLLqqX</a></p><p>— Bobby (@welcomeMLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/welcomeMLB/status/1966647359569621331?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Baez is, predictably, <a href="https://x.com/CodyStavenhagen/status/1966934881515995427" rel="noopener">out of the starting lineup</a> for Saturday’s game. He’s sporting a “nasty bruise around his left eye but is in good spirits,” according to The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen.</p><p>“Like a boxer… I’m ready for 12 more,” Baez said of his appearance. Despite the frightening injury, the versatile defender insists he’s ready to come off the bench if needed on Saturday.</p><h2><b>Javier Baez available for Tigers despite injury</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Javier-Baez-2_bdb9aa.jpg"><figcaption>Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-news-aj-hinch-reveals-huge-tarik-skubal-injury-update">Skubal also received a positive injury update</a>, allowing Tigers fans to breathe a sigh of relief. The reigning AL Cy Young winner got off to an uncharacteristically rocky start against the Marlins. Skubal gave up three runs in three innings. After recording the first out of the fourth frame, he experienced tightness in his left oblique.</p><p>With the Tigers gearing up for a postseason run, Hinch exercised caution and removed his ace. Fortunately, imaging came back clean, and Skubal is expected to make his next start.</p><p>Baez should also be back on the field soon. The Gold Glove utility man is in the midst of a strong season after an off year in 2024. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/mlb/detroit-tigers/tigers-news-javier-baezs-all-star-selection-draws-no-shortage-heartwarming-reactions">Baez made his third All-Star Game</a>, becoming just the fourth player to start the Midsummer Classic at three different positions. He played center field for the first time in his career this year. However, he’s also logged time at shortstop, second base and third, making him an important chess piece for Hinch.</p><p>While Baez’s bounce back is impressive, he has struggled after a strong start to the season. Baez slashed .295/.332/.478 with nine home runs, 36 RBIs and 37 runs scored over his first 66 games. But since June 22, his production has dipped. Baez is slashing .205/.216/.295 with two homers, 16 RBIs and 16 runs scored in the last 51 games.</p><p>Nonetheless, Baez continues to provide strong defense at multiple positions. This makes him extremely valuable to the Tigers as they prepare for the playoffs.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

2025 SEASON STATS
BA	HR	RBI	OPS	SB
.313	1	5	0.802	1

2025 SEASON STATS
BA	HR	RBI	OPS	SB
.313	1	5	0.802	1

Javier
Báez

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Why Tigers’ Javier Baez is not playing in crucial game vs. Guardians

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Javier Báez

Latest Javier Baez News

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Javier
Báez