Tigers upset Astros in wild-card series; Houston misses ALCS for first time in 8 years

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The American League Championship Series has been a Houston Astros invitational since 2016, but it will look a little different this year.

A red-hot Detroit Tigers team upset Houston in the American League Wild Card Series Wednesday with a 5-2 win, sweeping the Astros in the best-of-three set.

Houston took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning after trailing 1-0 to start the frame. However, a Kyle Tucker double play killed the rally, and the gritty Tigers were back at it against what may be the best back end of a bullpen in the sport.

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Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (20) celebrates with teammates after scoring a run against the Houston Astros during the eighth inning of Game 2 of the wild-card round of the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Minute Maid Park.  (Thomas Shea/Imagn Images)

With one out, Detroit hit back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners, and a Ryan Pressly wild pitch tied the game. Pressly allowed a two-out walk, prompting Astros manager Joe Espada to bring in Josh Hader. However, after the dominant closer walked his first batter, Andy Ibanez ripped one down the left-field line, clearing the bases and putting Detroit up, 5-2.

Detroit went with a full bullpen game, and seven different pitchers took the rubber for the win.

Houston went with Hunter Brown, who tossed 5⅔ innings of one-run ball. Normally, when you give the ball to Pressly and Hader, good things happen. But Wednesday was a rare exception.

The Tigers, sellers at the trade deadline, finished the season 31-13 in their final 44 games, clinching the sixth and final spot in the American League