Big Game Reese? The Tigers right-hander is expected to be on the hot seat in Game 4

He will either start or play big in the bulk innings in ALDS Game 4 against the Guardians, a game that will be either a potential series win or a possible season-ender for the Tigers.

But forgive the right-hander if all he wants to do at first is soak up the atmosphere of Game 3.

“I know everyone is really excited to see what kind of crowd there is,” he said before Wednesday’s game. “We expect them to be loud. I think everyone is pretty excited that the city of Detroit is hosting a baseball playoff game for the first time in 10 years. I think everyone is very excited to see how they present themselves.”

Olson faced the Guardians in Game 1 in Cleveland on Saturday and, save for one unfortunate pitch, gave the Tigers five strong innings in the 7-0 loss. That one pitch was his first of the day and it was a hanging slider that Lane Thomas launched for a three-run home run.

From that point on, however, Olson allowed two more hits with four strikeouts. He threw four-seamers and changeups for lefties, sinkers and sliders for righties. With the change, he had seven misses in 14 swings and four misses in eight swings on his slider.

Five days later, the question is whether he will attack the same way or whether he and catcher Jake Rogers will need to adjust the game plan.

“In a situation like that, back-to-back starts, you still fall back on your strengths,” Olson said. “Maybe change the sequences a little. But I will rely on what makes me good. It’s definitely a challenge going back-to-back against a team like that, but I’ve done it a few times this year so I kind of know how to handle it.”

Olson actually hasn't played the same opponent in two consecutive appearances this year. But last year he did it twice. He beat the Minnesota Twins with two hits and eight strikeouts on August 10, then failed to last the third inning six days later (eight hits, four runs).

A month later, he made two consecutive starts against the White Sox, beating them both times.

“It is what it is,” manager AJ Hinch said. “It will be the same for Tanner Bibee, the Guardians’ Game 4 starter.”

Bibee faced the Tigers three times in 19 days in July. The Tigers beat him on July 10th. But he defeated them twice in six days, on July 24th and 29th.

“Obviously they know your mix; “Everyone knows your mix,” Bibee said. “It's just a matter of figuring out how and when to use it against which person. It varies from game to game. Tomorrow will be the sixth time I've competed against these guys this year.

“So I’m not the same pitcher I was when I started. I’m not the same pitcher I was in the third round against those guys.”

Wenceel's role

One of the things Hinch is thinking about in this series is how to best utilize switch-hitter Wenceel Perez. He started him in right field for Game 3 and placed him fifth in the batting order between left-handers Riley Greene and Colt Keith.

But when he brings him into the starting lineup, he feels like he's missing a card to play him off the bench.

“Obviously in October, especially against this team, you try to beat the starter,” Hinch said. “I know what happened the other day, but you can't live like that. It’s not a consistent way to live.”

The Tigers beat Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase with Kerry Carpenter's three-run home run in the ninth inning in Game 2. But it was also the only runs they scored in 8⅔ innings against the Cleveland bullpen.

“So if you put him in the lineup as a switch-hitter and Cleveland has a couple of those, it creates a big matchup problem,” Hinch said. “You can choose which side you want him to hit (right or left), but it still gives us a platoon advantage.”

The bottom line is that Perez might be too valuable to save for certain situations.

“He's such a good player because he offers something in every way,” Hinch said. “His defense has gotten a lot better in right field. We saw great plays. He can move around the outfield when I need him to. His left-handed swing was more advanced than his right-handed swing. Still, his right-handed swing has produced some pretty good shots all year long.

“And I love the fact that he's emotionally balanced. I love the fact that he faces the competition and doesn’t back down.”

Chris McCosky asks Riley Greene about Game 3 of the ALDS against Cleveland.

Chris McCosky asks Riley Greene about Game 3 of the ALDS against Cleveland.

Splinter happy?

The Tigers haven't exactly embraced the splitter craze that's swept baseball in recent years. Their three best players on the field are not on the playoff roster: Shelby Miller was designated for play in September, while Casey Mize and Kenta Maeda were not on the roster for this series.

But they had to deal with that in Game 3 on Wednesday. The Guardians' veteran starter Alex Cobb relies heavily on the court.

“I think more and more pitchers are trying to find little subtleties in their fastballs, as opposed to maybe the massive breaking balls, other than the sweeper,” Hinch said. “The (sweeper) took over the game. But everything else is just subtle little movements. It's the cutter. It is the division. It's the little sinker. Just to give the batsmen something to deal with late in the sequence.”

In a small sample (106 pitches), hitters are 6 of 30 with five strikeouts against Cobb's splitter.

“I know Alex Cobb made a living from it,” Hinch said. “He also evolved and added a few more pitches. But when he needs a ball on the ground or something out of bounds, he often relies on a nasty split.”

The Tigers had a run score of zero against splitters during the regular season, meaning they were about league average.

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