But just when the headlines couldn’t get any hotter, another twist sent Tigers fans into a frenzy.

Just hours before the game, Head Coach AJ Hinch made a highly controversial call that’s now sparking backlash across the fanbase: he publicly expressed his lack of confidence in outfielder Gleyber Torres — and then took it a step further by benching him for the entire game.

“Right now, I don’t see the consistency we need from Gleyber,” Hinch said bluntly during a pre-game media scrum. “We need players who are locked in. I’m making a choice for the team today.”

That “choice” meant pulling Torres from the starting lineup — a move that stunned reporters, blindsided Torres himself, and infuriated fans on social media.

Within minutes, hashtags like #JusticeForTorres and #FireHinch started trending in Detroit. Fans questioned the timing, the tone, and the public humiliation of a player many see as a key part of the roster’s future.

“This is disrespectful,” one fan tweeted. “You don’t throw your own guy under the bus just to make a statement. Hinch needs to get over his ego.”

Another wrote: “You talk about team unity — then you single out Gleyber and embarrass him before a huge game? That’s leadership?”

Even former players chimed in, calling the move “demoralizing” and “a mistake you can’t take back.”

As for Gleyber Torres, his reaction was classy but visibly hurt. “I just want to help my team,” he told a reporter quietly. “Coach makes the decisions — I’ll be ready when my number’s called again.”

The tension in the clubhouse is now palpable, with insiders saying some players are siding with Torres — questioning if Hinch’s bold statements and unpredictable decisions are helping or hurting team morale.

What was supposed to be a high-stakes game against the Twins has now morphed into a full-blown psychological battlefield — one where every decision is under a microscope and every word has consequences.

As the Tigers take the field, the drama behind the scenes may matter just as much as the action on it.

Will Hinch’s hardline approach light a fire under the team — or blow up in his face?

Only one thing is certain: this game just became personal.