DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Tigers have less than 24 hours to find an offense that can save their season.
Unfortunately for their chances in the American League Division Series, the Tigers have been looking for the last month without any success.
Detroit only managed one run on five hits in the first eight innings of their 8-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday, leaving them down 2-1 in the series and facing elimination on Wednesday.
“Tonight wasn't easy,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “Especially with what (Logan) Gilbert was throwing up there. Not many fastballs and a lot of sliders and splits. We were swinging more and more as the game went on, and we had trouble putting together back-to-back at-bats that were productive.”
Gilbert allowed one run on four hits in six innings, striking out seven without issuing a walk.
“That was vintage Logan,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “He attacked the zone, he got into good counts and he let the split and the slider do his work for him.”
The Tigers scored three runs off Caleb Ferguson in the ninth to narrow the margin to four runs, but Wilson brought in closer Andrés Muñoz. He only needed to face two batters, getting a flyout and a game-ending double play.
“We're facing really good arms and we haven't strung together as many great at-bats as we would like,” Tigers leadoff hitter Kerry Carpenter said. “We have to tip our hat to some great pitching. We've got at least one more game to turn it around.”
That's easier said than done for a team that is averaging fewer than three runs a game in the last four weeks.
The problems started with 16 games left in the regular season. On Sept. 11, having outscored the Yankees 23-3 in the previous two days, the Tigers lost 9-3.
They went 3-13 down the stretch, blowing what seemed like a safe AL Central lead to the Cleveland Guardians and only getting the final wild-card berth on a tiebreaker over the Houston Astros.
Things haven't changed in October. The Tigers hit .218 in the AL Wild Card Series against the Guardians, scoring nine runs in three games but getting out of the series when Cleveland hit .178.
They only scored six runs in the first 28 innings against the Mariners before the meaningless late rally in Game 3.
“This is the hardest time of the year to hit,” Hinch said. “When you are facing high-end pitching in October, it is a grind. Obviously, their guys are talented and are exposing a little bit of the zone control we talk about all the time.”
The Tigers have struck out 68 times in six postseason games, and eight of their nine everyday hitters are averaging at least one strikeout a game.
That's been a problem all year, though.
Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson, Detroit's most dangerous hitters, have struck out 385 times between the regular season and playoffs. In the regular season, they combined for 67 homers and 189 RBIs, but they haven't homered in the postseason and Torkelson has six of their seven RBIs.
The Tigers are starting to look timid at the plate. In the eighth inning, desperately needing a rally, Javier Báez and Carpenter took five straight strikes from Eduard Bazardo before Carpenter weakly waved at a third strike.
Bryce Miller, who went 4-6 with a 5.68 ERA in 18 starts, will be on the mound for Seattle on Wednesday. If the Tigers can't take advantage of him, a once-promising season might be over.
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Detroit Tigers right fielder Kerry Carpenter chases a ball hit by Seattle Mariners' Victor Robles after committing a fielding error on the play during the eighth inning in Game 3 of baseball's American League Division Series Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Detroit Tigers' Spencer Torkelson, left, is congratulated by teammate Riley Greene after scoring during the ninth inning in Game 3 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — The son of a former prime minister of Bangladesh returned home Thursday after more than 17 years in self-imposed exile as a frontrunner to become the nation's next leader in upcoming elections.
Tarique Rahman moved to London in 2008 for medical treatment with permission after he was tortured while in custody during a military-backed government that ruled from 2006 to 2008.
Rahman, 60, is the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, one of two major political parties in the South Asian nation of more than 170 million people. His return is seen as politically significant ahead of the next election set for Feb. 12 under the current interim government.
A flight carrying Rahman, his wife and daughter arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital, Dhaka, late Thursday morning among tight security measures.
Massive crowds of supporters spread across an area about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) between the airport and a reception venue, where many had stayed overnight. A sea of people also waited at the venue. Rahman’s senior party leaders said earlier they expected “millions.”
After a reception, party officials said Rahman plans to go to a hospital to visit his critically ill mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who led a coalition government from 2001 until 2006 when a non-elected government backed by the military came to power during a period of political chaos.
Zia, a former housewife, came to politics after her husband, former military chief and then President Ziaur Rahman, was assassinated in a military coup in 1981. She held power for the first time in 1991 after becoming a key leader in a nine-year movement against a former military dictator who was forced to resign during a mass uprising in 1990.
Zia is considered one of two key figures in Bangladesh politics along with Sheikh Hasina, who was sentenced to death in absentia in November. Hasina was convicted on charges of crimes against humanity involving the crackdown on a mass uprising that ended her 15-year rule in 2024. India has not approved requests to extradite Hasina since she fled there last year.
In recent years, Rahman has been a de facto leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. He regularly joined meetings and rallies online from London, keeping his party united. He was not openly challenged by any party insiders during his absence.
Bangladesh is now at a political crossroads. The interim government headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus is struggling to maintain law and order and restore confidence while attempting a return to democracy after Hasina's long premiership.
Global human rights groups including Human Rights Watch and the Amnesty International have accused the Yunus government of eroding democratic rights. Liberals in Bangladesh have expressed concerns over press freedom and minority rights and accused Yunus of presiding over a visible rise of Islamists.
Rahman supported Yunus when he took over as the government's chief adviser, but the relationship with his party has been shaky.
Rahman was convicted in several criminal cases during Hasina’s 15-year rule since 2009. Appeals courts under the Yunus government have acquitted him of all criminal charges including involvement of a grenade attacks on a Hasina rally in 2004.
Supporters of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman shout slogans following his arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka after more than 17 years of self-imposed exile in London, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/ Mahmud Hossain Opu)
Supporters of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman shout slogans following his arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka after more than 17 years of self-imposed exile in London, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/ Mahmud Hossain Opu)
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman's wife, Zubaida Rahman, left, arrives with her daughter Zaima Rahman at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Bangladesh, as they return to the country, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)
Supporters of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman shout slogans following his arrival at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka after more than 17 years of self-imposed exile in London, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/ Mahmud Hossain Opu)
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman waves to supporters from a bus in Dhaka after returning from London, ending more than 17 years of self-imposed exile, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025.(AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman, Tarique Rahman, center, arrives at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, after returning from London, ending more than 17 years of self-imposed exile. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman, Tarique Rahman, waves to supporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka after returning from London, ending more than 17 years of self-imposed exile, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)
