AJ Hinch's final move of 2025 season ended Tigers' playoff run before it was official

The Detroit Tigers were on the losing end of what's sure to be dubbed an instant classic. In Game 5 of the 2025 ALDS — a win-or-go-home matchup between the Tigers and Seattle Mariners — Detroit fell by a final score of 3-2 after a Jorge Polanco walk-off single in the bottom of the 15th inning sent Seattle to their first ALCS since 2001.

It's hard to be overly critical of any one player, play, or managerial decision, but Tigers fans are sure to question A.J. Hinch's use of Tommy Kahnle in the bottom of the 15th inning. The right-hander allowed two hits, one walk, and hit a batter, and was on the mound when Seattle plated the winning-run.

Kahnle was far from the Tigers' most reliable reliever this season. The veteran hurler made 66 appearances out of the Detroit bullpen in 2025, but his 4.43 ERA, 1.302 WHIP, and -0.1 bWAR don't exactly scream shutdown reliever.

AJ Hinch's final move of 2025 season ended Tigers' playoff run after calling on Tommy Kahnle

In Hinch's defense, he'd already burned through six other pitchers in an effort to keep the Tigers' playoff hopes alive. After starter Tarik Skubal gave his skipper six magnificent innings of one-run baseball, Detroit turned it over to the bullpen with a 2-1 lead.

Hinch must've immediately regretted that decision after Mariners' pinch-hitter Leo Rivas pounced on Kyle Finnegan in the bottom of the seventh. His RBI single knotted the score at 2-2 and helped pushed the game into extra innings.

A see-saw battle then ensued through the 14th inning that didn't see a single run scored. Hinch turned to Kahle after a clutch performance from Jack Flaherty, but a single by J.P. Crawford to lead off the inning was followed by a hit-by-pitch.

Kahnle was able to dispatch of Seattle's best hitter, Call Raleigh, and then an intentional walk to Julio Rodriguez set the stage for a double-play or a game-winning base knock. Unfortunately for Tigers fans, it was the latter. Polanco laced a single into right field that set up a matchup between the Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays for the right to go to the World Series.

There'll be plenty of time to question Hinch's handling of the game, but frankly, the Tigers' limp to the finish line at the end of the season cost them playoff seeding, and an inability to manufacture runs in the 11th or 12th inning cost Detroit big-time. Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, Colt Keith, Gleyber Torres, and Parker Meadows were a combined 0-for-28. Woof!

Hinch's decision to hand the ball to Kahnle was the final nail in the Tigers' coffin, but it was far from the only reason Detroit lost the game.