The ALDS matchup between the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Guardians has transitioned to a best-of-three series after the teams split the initial two games in Cleveland. The series is now taking place in Detroit, where Comerica Park hosted its first playoff game in over a decade on Wednesday afternoon. The Tigers secured a 2-1 series lead by shutting out the Guardians.
Cleveland won Game 1 decisively with a significant first inning, but the Tigers bounced back in Game 2, with Kerry Carpenter hitting a game-winning home run off All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase in the ninth inning, leading to an 3-0 victory.
The following is the schedule for the ALDS series between the Guardians and the Tigers:
– Game 1: Sat., Oct. 5 – Guardians 7, Tigers 0
– Game 2: Mon., Oct. 7 – Tigers 3, Guardians 0
– Game 3: Wed., Oct. 9 – Tigers 3, Guardians 0
– Game 4: Thurs., Oct. 10 – 6:08 p.m. ET
– Game 5 (if necessary): Sat., Oct. 12 – 4:38 p.m. ET
Game 4 will be hosted at Comerica Park in Detroit and will be broadcast on TNT. The matchup will see probable pitcher RHP Tanner Bibee for the Guardians against an undecided pitcher for the Tigers. The betting odds indicate Cleveland at -120 and Detroit at +100, with an over/under set at 6.5 runs.
In the ALDS, the Guardians boast a historically great bullpen, achieving a record 13.7 WAR, outperforming the next best by a significant margin. Led by closer Emmanuel Clase, who posted a remarkable 0.61 ERA, the Guardians rely on a balanced offense and a strong pitching staff to facilitate their success. While players like Steven Kwan, José Ramírez, and Josh Naylor are essential to their batting lineup, the rest of the team is less imposing.
On the other hand, the Tigers have surprised many with their resilience and adaptability. Manager A.J. Hinch effectively utilizes his bench and adjusts the pitching lineup as needed. Star pitcher Tarik Skubal is positioned to start in both Games 2 and 5 with normal rest. If the Guardians finish the series in four games or less, they would face Skubal only once. The Tigers have demonstrated their ability to compete vigorously even on days when Skubal is not pitching, embodying unpredictability and resilience that keeps opponents on their toes.