The Detroit Tigers roll into Fenway Park on Saturday, trying to shake off that tough loss from Friday night. They had a 3-0 lead against the Boston Red Sox, and for a while, it looked like they would manage the win. It looked like they might finally stabilize after a brutal stretch where they lost 10 of 12 games. But Boston refused to go down quietly. After all, they haven’t been to the playoffs since 2021!

And they chipped away with a run in each of the final three innings before staking a 4-3 walk-off. Ouch. That’s not the momentum that the Tigers want heading down the final stretch. Even then, there was a silver lining, given that the Cleveland Guardians lost to the Twins. Hence Detroit’s playoff hopes are not dead, and they can dream of the AL Central title, even though the window is slim.

For Boston, the path is clearer given they need one win, or a Houston Astros misstep, to lock into the postseason berth. Two wins would cement the No. 2 wild card spot, with Detroit holding the tiebreaker. Now every pitch matters.

Watch Tigers vs. Red Sox: TV & Streaming Info

• When: Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 4:10 p.m. ET
• Where: Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts
• How to watch on TV: NESN and FDSDET

Tigers vs. Red Sox: Injury Report

Boston Red Sox

• Brennan Bernardino – Lat (15-day IL)
• Vaughn Grissom – Foot (60-day IL)
• Dustin May – Elbow (15-day IL)
• Jordan Hicks – Shoulder (15-day IL)
• Roman Anthony – Oblique (10-day IL)
• Richard Fitts – Biceps (15-day IL)
• Marcelo Mayer – Wrist (60-day IL)
• Hunter Dobbins – ACL (60-day IL)
• Luis Guerrero – Elbow (60-day IL)
• Josh Winckowski – Elbow (60-day IL)
• Liam Hendriks – Hip (60-day IL)
• Tanner Houck – Flexor (60-day IL)
• Triston Casas – Knee (60-day IL)
• Kutter Crawford – Knee (60-day IL)
• Patrick Sandoval – Elbow (60-day IL)

Detroit Tigers

• Colt Keith – Rib Cage (10-day IL)
• Sawyer Gipson-Long – Neck (15-day IL)
• Beau Brieske – Forearm (60-day IL)
• Matt Vierling – Oblique (10-day IL)
• Reese Olson – Shoulder (60-day IL)
• Sean Guenther – Hip (60-day IL)
• Jason Foley – Shoulder (60-day IL)
• Jackson Jobe – Flexor (60-day IL)
• Alex Cobb – Hip (60-day IL)
• Ty Madden – Shoulder (60-day IL)

Starting Pitchers

Boston Red Sox: Connelly Early

The Boston Red Sox will be sending Connely Early for his fourth start of the season. The 23-year-old has been exceptional in his limited action. He posted a 1-1 record, with a 1.88 ERA and 22 strikeouts over 14⅓ ⅓ innings. In fact, in his last outing on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays, he went four innings and gave up two earned runs on three hits. Over three games of this season, he is striking batters at an eye-watering 13.8 per nine innings and holding opposition hitters to a .236 average. He may not have that big of a track record, but he is already showing why Boston is choosing to trust him against the rest.

Detroit Tigers: Keider Montero

On the flip side, the Detroit Tigers are turning to Keider Montero for his 12th start. The 25-year-old has had a topsy-turvy season. Sitting at 5-3, with a 4.48 ERA with 6.8 strikeouts per nine innings, he has had some moments. His last outing came against the Atlanta Braves on Saturday. There, he pitched three innings and gave up three earned runs on two hits. He managed nine starts of at least five innings in his last 11 chances, but his average outing is still around 4.5 innings. His consistency is a question mark, but when he is on, he can help keep Detroit in the game.

Prediction: Can Detroit Tigers Stay Alive in Playoff Race?

The Tigers entered the season with swagger, no doubt. They had championship hopes, and given they were led by the reigning AL Cy Young winner, Tarik Skubal, and a deep rotation, and the lineup that looked competent, it looked possible. They surged through the summer as one of the strongest and most balanced teams in the league. At one point, they even boasted of having the best record in the league and a 14-game AL Central lead. S,o of course, the fans dreamed of October games. But as usual, baseball can humble even the best of the best—ask the New York Mets, who have become a laughing stock! And for the Tigers, September has been a complete nightmare with seven straight losses and 10 defeats in the last 11 games, and now suddenly they don’t look dominant anymore.

Their division lead has evaporated, and the playoff hopes are hanging by a thread, to be honest. However, one win and one loss in the final weekend can make all the difference. See if the Astros win today and Detroit loses; it’s a tie for that final postseason spot, meaning tomorrow’s game becomes a do-or-die. However, for now, A.J. Hinch is being hopeful and also grounded, saying, “It’s always fun for me. I love this stuff. Despite maybe some of the ups and downs, you get into these (season-defining moments) … you have to work really hard for a really long time to even have a chance at this.” However, there is no doubt that the Tigers’ downfall is something even the fans didn’t anticipate this time.

But are they over yet? Well, the hitting, pitching, and defense have all gone for a toss. But a late-season spark can change it all. The Tigers have won 15 of their last 16 day games against AL opponents after a road loss. Meanwhile, the Red Sox have lost five of their last six day games against Detroit at their home ground after a win. So maybe, just maybe, Tarik Skubal and Co.’s dream can stay alive. But it will take some quick action, because time is not in their favor, and also they need a little bit of luck and periwinkle dust for sure.