CLEVELAND -- The Detroit Tigers looked like a team in freefall for much of September. They lost 22 of their final 31 games and stumbled into the postseason with the lowest September winning percentage by a playoff team since the World Series began in 1903.

On Thursday, it felt more like, say, the good old days of May or June. The Tigers were resilient and opportunistic. And now they’re advancing.

The Tigers beat the Cleveland Guardians in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series , snapping a three-game skid in elimination games and rediscovering the timely hitting that had eluded them for weeks. After going 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position in Game 2, they went 5-for-12 in Game 3, their most hits in such situations since Aug. 20.

Asked if the adversity made the series win sweeter, manag

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