DETROIT – Only 3.5 games separate the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians as they head into the final three series of the season.
Here’s a look at what both teams have left on their schedules:
Tigers: 3 games vs. Atlanta Braves
The Phillies have already clinched the NL east, and the Braves are nine games back from an NL wild card spot, so it’s unlikely they will see the playoffs this year, although they haven’t been officially eliminated yet.
They have won five in a row and have a minus-25 run differential, meaning they have surrendered more runs than they’ve scored this season.
The Tigers have Charlie Morton, Keider Montero, and Casey Mize starting against the Braves.
Tigers: 3 games @ Cleveland Guardians
This will undoubtedly be the Tigers’ single most important series of the year and should be treated like a playoff series. The Tigers are 4-6 against the Guardians so far in 2025.
If everything goes as planned, the Tigers will most likely have Skubal starting one of these games, however, last time the two teams met, Detroit went 3-for-21 with RISP, which won’t win a ball game no matter who is on the mound.
Tigers: 3 games @ Boston Red Sox
This will be the Tigers’ last regular season series of the year. The Red Sox are in third place and six games back in the AL East but are in the mix for the wild card and will most likely still be smack dab in the middle of the race when the teams meet.
The Tigers swept the Red Sox when they met at Comerica Park this season.
Guardians: 4 games @ Minnesota Twins
Minnesota has been officially eliminated from playoff contention. This doesn’t necessarily help the Tigers, because Cleveland will be playing for a playoff spot and Minnesota won’t. The Guardians are 6-3 against the Twins this season.
The Guardians have Parker Messick and Joey Cantillo listed as pitching probables for this series.
3 games vs. Texas Rangers
This will be the Guardians’ last regular season series of the year. Texas is currently in third place and five games back in the AL West Division race, as well as four games back of the wild card. The Rangers swept the Guardians the last time the teams met.
There’s a very good chance the Rangers will have been eliminated from playoff contention by the time this series begins, which doesn’t help the Tigers.
Final thoughts
The Tigers got off to a hot start this season, and they need to find their way back to what they were doing pre All-Star break — throwing strikes, taking care of the ball defensively, getting timely two-out hits, and being aggressive on the bases. If they can get back to this, they will be just fine.
However the rest of the season shakes out, the Tigers currently sit atop the Central Division with a 3.5 game lead, and a magic number of seven.
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