Explore the latest developments concerning Tigers vs. Guardians.
Here's what will decide Detroit Tigers vs Guardians wild-card series in MLB postseason
CLEVELAND — Free Press sports writer Evan Petzold breaks down the best-of-three American League wild-card series in the 2025 MLB postseason between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians, from Tuesday-Thursday at Progressive Field.
The managers: Tigers — A.J. Hinch (964-868 career; 394-416 with Tigers; 32-25 in postseason; 4-3 with Tigers in postseason); Guardians — Stephen Vogt (180-143 career and with Guardians; 4-6 in postseason).
Top three players: Tigers — LHP Tarik Skubal, LF Riley Greene, DH Kerry Carpenter; Guardians — 3B José Ramírez, LF Steven Kwan, RHP Gavin Williams.
Nobody gives his team a better chance in Game 1 than Tarik Skubal — the 2024 AL Cy Young winner and the 2025 favorite. The 28-year-old left-hander has become the best pitcher in the world, leading MLB with a 2.21 ERA over 31 starts in the 2025 season.
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Tigers-Guardians AL Wild Card Series Game 1 FAQ (1 ET, ESPN)
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. It’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.