BOSTON — Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch has sounded like a broken record.

That's not a bad thing.

Over the past week, the 12-year MLB manager has repeated the same mantra in different ways — but it's the exact message he has given his players for the entire 2025 season:

"The only thing we can do is play the schedule."

"Every team has the opportunity to play their schedule." Expert MLB daily picks: Unique MLB betting insights only at USA TODAY

"We have nothing to do but get ready for tomorrow's game because we've got to play the schedule." SHAWN WINDSOR: Tigers finally getting the hits that made 2024 special — and a playoff spot

After 161 of 162 games, the Tigers punched their ticket to the 2025 postseason with a 2-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Saturday, Sept. 27, at

See Full Page