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To win their opening playoff series on Wednesday and advance to the next round, the Tigers will have to get through a starting pitcher who grew up in Michigan rooting for the franchise.
Detroit native Hunter Brown will start Game 2 of the American League Wild Card series for the Houston Astros against the Tigers, manager Joe Espada said following the Tigers’ Game 1 win on Tuesday in Houston.
Espada said turning to the 26-year-old brown was a “no-brainer” decision he made long before the playoffs.
“Hunter was starting Game 2 from a long time ago,” Espada said. “I just never told you that. He’s one of the best starters in the game. He’s been one of the best pitchers in the second half. So that was a no-brainer for me.”
Brown grew up a Tigers and Justin Verlander fan in Metro Detroit, according to a 2022 Houston Chronicle story, and went to Lakeview High School in St. Clair Shores before going on to Wayne State.
After a strong career there, he was picked in the fifth round of the 2019 MLB Draft and made his major league debut in September, 2022.
In his second full season in 2024, Brown went 11-9 with a 3.49 ERA and 179 strikeouts in 170 innings.
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