It’s the final month of the minor league season, and for A-ball teams the final week of the regular season. Some big names homered on Tuesday, while one Tigers affiliate tried to clinch a playoff berth, and another battled for its playoff life. Read all about it below!
Triple-A: Toledo Mud Hens (W 9-7) vs. Indianapolis Indians – 63-69 Overall
Rain delayed the start of this game by about 45 minutes, but it didn’t seem to bother to Mud Hens bats. Toledo scored in the 1st on two-out hits from Max Anderson and Jace Jung, though the Indians tied it on a solo homer in the top of the 2nd. The Hens put up four runs in the 3rd, with Anderson and Jung once again in the middle of the rally.
And then Indianapolis scored four runs of their own. Undeterred, Trei Cruz led off the 4th inning with a double, part of a four-hit night, and Toledo managed to plate three more runs on timely hits from veteran outfielders Corey Julks and James Outman. The Hens bullpen bent in the late innings, but it didn’t break, and they took home the win.
Jace Jung makes it a 4-1 game with a sharp 2-run single up the middle. pic.twitter.com/ZqJxLzM7iC
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) September 2, 2026
Trei Cruz 4/5, 2B, 3R
Max Anderson 2/4, 2R, RBI
Jace Jung 2/3, 2B, 5RBI, BB
Corey Julks 1/5, 3B, R, RBI, K
James Outman 1/3, 2B, RBI, K
Austin Gomber
3.1 IP 6H 4ER 3BB 0K
Brant Hurter
IP H BB K
Brenan Hanifee
2IP 2H ER BB K
Erie SeaWolves (L 7-5) vs. Somerset Patriots – 38-20 2nd Half, 74-52 Overall
The SeaWolves enter the week with a magic number of six, looking to clinch their 5th consecutive playoff appearance, while starter Lucas Elissalt was looking to bounce back after one of the shortest outings of his pro career. Things started off well enough. Elissalt got through his first two innings on just 26 pitches, and a Luke Shliger RBI single kicked off a 3-run inning for the SeaWolves. Elissalt struck out the side in the 3rd, but Somerset also managed four singles and two runs.
Zyhir Hope immediately got one run right back with a rocket of a home run to right. But it was mostly Patriots after that. They ended Elissalt’s day with an error and a double to lead off the 5th inning, and they plated three runs in the 6th to take a 6-4 lead. Erie got one back in the bottom of the frame on a Seth Stephenson groundout, but that was their last real threat.
Zyhir Hope with a rocket over the wall in right field to put Erie up 4-2. It’s his 4th home run with the SeaWolves, and his 27th overall this year. @ZachSurdenik on the call. pic.twitter.com/KwCDvj8CwP
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) September 1, 2026
Peyton Graham 0/4, BB, K, SB(63)
Woody Hadeen 0/4, BB, 2K
Zyhir Hope 1/4 HR(27), 2K
Thayron Liranzo 0/4, 2K
E.J. Exposito 3/4, 2B, 2R
Izaac Pacheco 1/3, 2B, R, BB
Luke Shliger 1/4, RBI, K
Seth Stephenson 1/4, RBI, SB(60)
Lucas Elissalt
4IP 6H 3R 2ER 0BB 6K
Yosber Sanchez
2IP 5H 3ER 3K
Johan Simon
2IP H ER 3K
Yoniel Curet
IP 2K
West Michigan Whitecaps (W 14-11) @ Dayton Dragons – 34-27 2nd Half, 58-67 Overall – 1.5 Games Back
Unlike Erie, West Michigan doesn’t control their playoff destiny. They’re still alive heading into the final week of the season, but they sat 2.5 games behind Great Lakes heading into Tuesday’s action, so the margin for error is thin. They certainly got off on the right foot, with Jackson Strong and Bryce Rainer blasting solo homers to put the Whitecaps up 2-0 after just six pitches.
Cincinnati’s 1st-round pick Justin Lebron immediately answered back with a solo homer off a hanging Rayner Castillo breaking ball. The next batter smacked a triple off the wall in center, but Castillo managed to get out of the jam with no more damage thanks to a strikeout and a great throw home from Nolan McCarthy.
Then the game just got silly. Strong crushed his 2nd homer in as many innings to put the Whitecaps up 5-1. Dayton responded with eight hits and seven runs in the bottom of the 2nd to take an 8-5 lead. Then West Michigan scored three times in the top of the 3rd to tie the game, putting together three singles and then three walks, all with two outs. There was a brief peace, but then Dayton scored twice in the 5th and once in the 6th to go up 11-8. It looked grim for the Caps, but the Dragons set themselves on fire in the 8th, allowing five runs on three hits, two walks, a hit batter, and a 2-run error. They added another in the 9th for good measure, and took home a HUGE comeback win, moving them back to withing 1.5 games of the playoffs.
Jackson Strong launches his 2nd home run in as many innings. This time it’s a 3-run bomb that traveled 439 feet. 👀💣 pic.twitter.com/uBkHIhjQKT
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) September 1, 2026
Jackson Strong 2/3, 2HR(16), 3R, 5RBI, 3BB, K, SB(22)
Bryce Rainer 2/3 HR(19), 2R, 2RBI, 3BB, K
Edian Espinal 1/6, R, K
Samuel Gil 1/3, 2R, RBI, BB
Andrew Sojka 1/4, 3R, RBI
Carson Rucker 2/5, R, 2RBI, K
Rayner Castillo
1.2IP 9H 8R 6ER K 3HR
Preston Howey
1.1 IP H 2K
Juanmi Vasquez
1.2IP BB 2K
Ryan Harvey
2IP H 5K
Lakeland Flying Tigers (L 4-1, 6 innings ) @ Bradenton Marauders – 30-28Â 2nd Half, 61-62 Overall
There will be no playoffs for Lakeland this year, but they still send out a small army of interesting prospects every night. Tuesday saw Caleb Leys take the mound for the 20th time this season. He didn’t get much help from his defense early. Bradenton scored a run in the 2nd without the benefit of a hit, taking advantage of throwing errors by second baseman Jude Warwick and shortstop Jordan Yost.
Warwick immediately made up for his mistake with a rocket of a solo homer to right, but unfortunately that was about it for the Flying Tigers offense. Leys got himself into trouble with three walks and two runs in the 3rd, ending his outing. Bradenton added another run in the 4th, and Lakeland didn’t have a baserunner after the 3rd, before rain ended the game after the 6th inning
Jude Warwick gets an elevated sinker and crushes it to right to tie the game. It’s his 10th home run of the season. Left his bat at 104.7 MPH and went 364 feet. pic.twitter.com/hwxX5EOY63
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) September 1, 2026
Jesus Pinto 1/2, BB, SB(25)
Jude Warwick 1/2 HR(10) K
Caleb Leys
2.2IP H 3R 2ER 3BB 4K
Frenny Grant
2.1 IP 2H ER 3BB 5K
Jose Guzman
IP H K
Colin Arthur 
Jerry McKennan