CLEVELAND — The Tigers and Guardians just endured six pressure-packed head-to-head meetings over the last week to decide the AL Central and now, one year after their epic five-game battle in the American League Division Series, the two clubs will face each other yet again — this time, in the Wild Card round.
The first of three potential Wild Card games, all at Progressive Field, is set for 1:08 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Itâ€s a matchup that appeared unlikely for extended portions of the 2025 regular season, if not unfathomable.
The Tigers once carried a 15 1/2-game lead over the Guardians in the AL Central, as recently as the morning of July 9, and it was as high as 11 games on Sept. 4. But Cleveland went 20-7 in September as Detroit went 7-17 to pull off a historic comeback. The Guardians clinched on Sunday, when the Tigers fell, 4-3, to the Red Sox.
Clevelandâ€s 15 1/2-game deficit is the largest a team has overcome to win a division (since 1969) or league (pre-1969). The 11-game deficit is the largest a team overcame in September to reach the postseason. The Guardians went 5-1 against the Tigers in September to help pull it off, which included a sweep at Comerica Park two weeks ago and a series win last week.
“I feel like when we were playing them last time,†catcher Austin Hedges said, “it was like, ‘We’re probably going to see you guys again in the playoffs. It’s just how it’s all going to work out.†What a beautiful thing. The world now gets to watch us play each other again in the playoffs, and it’s just going to make for some great baseball.â€
These two clubs know each other well. There shouldnâ€t be many, if any, surprises from either side, but familiarity will only go so far. The series will come down to who executes best on the field, and who is more prepared. Tigers manager A.J. Hinch hinted on Sunday that his club’s prep work would include a deep dive into the games theyâ€ve played recently to see if any trends emerged that they might have missed, particularly for their own hitters against Guardians pitchers.
“We’ll make sure our guys don’t take for granted that we know them well,†Hinch said. “The biggest concern when you play a division opponent is familiarity can be a blessing or a curse depending on how you look at it, from being a little bit too comfortable. So we’re going to have to turn over every rock to make sure we’re prepared.â€
And Cleveland knows that any past success is by no means an indicator of the future.
“They’re a good team,†left fielder Steven Kwan said. “Weâ€ve gotten them these last couple times, and to see them again, I’m just hoping that everybody’s not kind of assuming it’s going to be the same as the last two series.
“They’re going to come out, they’re going to do their homework. … Theyâ€re a formidable opponent.â€
When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 1 is Tuesday, and first pitch is scheduled for 1:08 p.m. ET on ESPN.
All series are available in the US on MLB.TV with authentication to a participating Pay TV provider. Games also are available live internationally, although not in Canada.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Tigers: Tarik Skubal (13-6, 2.21 ERA in 31 starts) gets the ball against the team he faced in his last two regular-season starts. He struck out 17 batters over 12 innings with just two earned runs allowed, but took a no-decision and a loss. His final inning in last Tuesdayâ€s defeat featured uncharacteristic self-inflicted mistakes leading to two unearned runs, including an errant between-the-legs throw to first base on a bunt, a wild pitch that scored a run, and a balk — just the second of his career — setting up another.
Skubal faced the Guardians twice in Cleveland during last yearâ€s Division Series. His seven scoreless innings in Game 2 set up Detroit for a win on the road. His outing in Game 5 turned when Lane Thomas hit him for a grand slam in the fifth inning.
Guardians: Gavin Williams (12-5, 3.06 ERA in 31 starts) will take the ball for Cleveland. The big right-hander emerged as Clevelandâ€s rotation anchor over the second half of the season, after a bumpy first half in which he led the Majors with 57 walks over 19 starts. Williams led Guardians starters with a 2.18 ERA after the All-Star break while he recorded 78 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings over 12 starts.
Williams†final two regular-season starts were against the Tigers. He allowed two runs on seven hits and four walks with 21 strikeouts over 11 innings to record the win in each outing.
What might the starting lineups look like?
Tigers: The lineup against right-handed pitchers has largely settled down, but Hinch might have to weigh anything he can switch up after the Tigers struggled against Williams and Tanner Bibee last week at Progressive Field and the week before that at Comerica Park. Any changes would likely be small; thereâ€s only so much Detroit can do with its roster, and any change has an impact on the late-inning matchups against Clevelandâ€s versatile bullpen.
Guardians: Like the Tigers, the Guardians embrace playing matchups as much as they can, and Clevelandâ€s lineup figures to include as many right-handed hitters as possible against Skubal. The Guardians did suffer a big loss to its right-handed-hitting mix; David Fry likely will be out for the entire postseason after he suffered multiple facial and nasal fractures when hit in the face with a Skubal pitch last Tuesday. Johnathan RodrÃguez (who was promoted from Triple-A Columbus after Fry went on the injured list) has gone 3-for-5 with a two-run homer in a two-game sample and could earn a start.
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Tigers: What had been a dominant bullpen for much of the summer struggled down the stretch, shrinking Hinchâ€s circle of trust among his relief corps. Hinch never formally named a closer this season, but Will Vest has been the guy for much of the year, with Kyle Finnegan lined up for the middle of the order leading into the ninth. Tyler Holton has regained his versatile nastiness down the stretch, while Tommy Kahnle has struggled with command after looking very good over the first half of the season. Expect to see rookie Troy Melton used as a multi-inning guy after he tossed 3 2/3 solid innings in a start in Cleveland last Thursday.
Hinch carried three left-handers in the bullpen when the teams met at Comerica Park two weeks ago, but didnâ€t have that option in Cleveland after optioning Bailey Horn to Triple-A Toledo. Heâ€s eligible to return, as is Drew Sommers, so itâ€ll be interesting to see if Hinch goes for that.
Guardians: The Guardians did not officially name a closer after Emmanuel Clase went on non-disciplinary paid leave on July 28 due to an MLB investigation. However, Cade Smith has almost always been the man on the mound when there is a save opportunity. Working backwards, Hunter Gaddis and Erik Sabrowski have been manager Stephen Vogtâ€s setup men, and Matt Festa is the “fireman,†who often comes in to clean up any messes in the middle innings. Jakob Junis (2.49 ERA in 16 appearances since Aug. 1) has also been a steady presence in the middle-to-late innings.
Tigers: Third baseman Colt Keith (right rib cage inflammation) and outfielder Matt Vierling (left oblique strain) are doing rehab work but are unlikely to be ready for the series. Right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long (neck stiffness) is facing live hitters and could be a bullpen option if they need one.
Guardians: Fry is expected to be sidelined for 6-8 weeks due to his injury. Nolan Jones†availability for the postseason is in question due to a right oblique strain. Thomas (a Guardians postseason hero when these teams squared off in 2024) had season-ending right foot surgery for plantar fasciitis this month. Reliever Nic Enright will not return this season due to a right forearm injury that is being assessed.
Who is hot and who is not?
Tigers: Javier Báez batted 8-for-25 (.320) against Cleveland in the regular season and recorded five RBIs over the final four games overall in the regular season, including a three-run home run Sunday in Boston. Torkelson went 12-for-49 (.245) with 20 strikeouts against the Guardians, but three hits were homers.
Guardians: RamÃrez slashed .287/.374/.515 with four homers and 17 RBIs in September. He also went 17-for-49 (.347) with a 1.030 OPS in 13 games against the Tigers this season. Similarly, Kwan went 16-for-52 (.308) in 12 games against Detroit. The Guardians will need both of them performing if they are to advance.
Anything else fans might want to know?
This is only the second time the Guardians and Tigers have met in the postseason, joining last seasonâ€s ALDS. The Tigers recorded a sweep at Progressive Field from July 4-6, as part of the Guardians†10-game losing streak. Cleveland is only the fourth team to make the playoffs in the same season it had a 10-game skid, joining the 2017 Dodgers, 1982 Braves and 1951 New York Giants.
Discover more from 6up.net
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.