CLEVELAND -- Jackson Jobe faced a trial by fire in his first playoff appearance, which also happened to be only his third time pitching in a big-league game.
In the box score, it didn't look pretty. The 22-year-old Detroit Tigers right-hander was charged with two runs and lost the 1-0 lead he was protecting in the seventh inning against the Houston Astros on Wednesday.
But the reality was less harsh than it appeared.
"I texted back and forth with him after Game 2 and just let him I thought he did tremendously well," Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said on Friday. "If anything, the way he threw the ball gives me more confidence that he can handle it. He didn't get hit hard. There wasn't a ball that was on the barrel."
Jobe hit lead-off batter Victor Caratini, and Jeremy Peña followed with a line-drive single to center. Mauricio Dubón then laid down a sacrifice bunt so perfectly placed that it turned into an infield hit.
With the bases loaded and nobody out, Jobe found himself in serious trouble. Pinch-hitter Jon Singleton hit a chopper to first base that Spencer Torkelson fielded on his knees, but his throw to the plate short-hopped and Jake Rogers couldn't handle it.
Next, Jose Altuve hit a fly ball to foul territory in shallow right field. Peña barely beat Matt Vierling's throw to the plate, and just like that, the Tigers' lead was gone.
"He got a little unlucky," Hinch said. "I know I put him in a tough, unfamiliar spot, but this kid can handle it. I'm excited to get him back on the mound. That's exactly what I told him. And I expect him to be on this roster. We haven't announced it yet, but he's equipped to do this and pitch as many innings as we need."
The Tigers will announce their Division Series roster about three hours before their Game 1 matchup against the Cleveland Guardians at 1:08 p.m. on Saturday at Progressive Field.
The Tigers are permitted to make changes from the roster they used in the best-of-three Wild Card Series, but it's unclear if any adjustments will be made.
Here's who the Tigers had active in Houston:
PITCHERS (12): Beau Brieske, Jason Foley, Sean Guenther, Brenan Hanifee, Tyler Holton, Brant Hurter, Jackson Jobe, Ty Madden, Casey Mize, Reese Olson, Tarik Skubal, Will Vest.
POSITION PLAYERS (14): Kerry Carpenter, Dillon Dingler, Riley Greene, Andy Ibáñez, Jace Jung, Colt Keith, Justyn-Henry Malloy, Zach McKinstry, Parker Meadows, Wenceel Pérez, Jake Rogers, Trey Sweeney, Spencer Torkelson, Matt Vierling.
Right-handers Keider Montero and Kenta Maeda finished the regular season on the 28-man active roster but were not included on the initial 26-man playoff roster.