Cal Raleigh and Aaron Judge going for history as AL playoff picture continues to form
USA TODAY Sports’ Gabe Lacques breaks down the storylines to watch in the AL as the MLB seasons winds down.
Sports Pulse
If you had asked a Major League Baseball fan what the most intriguing September matchup would be a month ago, it’s likely few people would’ve answered Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Guardians.
The Tigers are less than a month removed from a 12.5-game lead in the AL Central, but the Guardians’ incredible play in September has pushed the team to within one game of the struggling Tigers.
While both of these teams reached the postseason a year ago, neither are sitting comfortably in their division or the wild-card race. Whichever team ends up losing out on the division title could very well miss the postseason altogether. That makes this series of the utmost importance for both teams. Here’s how to watch:
Gavin Williams struck out the side in the sixth, but Riley Greene’s homer was wedged in there to give Detroit a 2-0 lead. Williams has 12 strikeouts in six innings. Score: Tigers 2, Guardians 0.
The Tigers have increased their lead to 2-0 in the sixth inning after Riley Greene ripped his 35th homer of the season. Score: Tigers 2, Guardians 0.
Cleveland threatened in the fifth, breaking Tarik Skubal’s string of setting down nine consecutive batters when Kyle Manzardo hit a one-out double. Jhonkensy Noel followed with a walk, but Skubal settled in and struck out Brayan Rocchio on four pitches before getting Austin Hedges to ground into an inning-ended fielder’s choice. Score: Tigers 1, Guardians 0.
Gavin Williams had a much-needed bounceback inning, setting down the Tigers in order on eight pitches.
Trey Sweeney grounded out to first base on the first pitch he saw and Parker Meadows followed with a groundout to short. Then Williams made Gleyber Torres his ninth strikeout victim. Score: Tigers 1, Guardians 0.
It seems safe to say that Tarik Skubal has found his rhythm.
Skubal made quick work of the Guardians in the fourth, setting down Angel Martinez, Jose Ramirez and David Fry in order. Since allowing a walk to start the second inning, Skubal has retired eight in a row. Score: Tigers 1, Guardians 0.
The Tigers were threatening to break this one open in the fourth, but Gavin Williams worked out of it.
After striking out Kerry Carpenter to lead off the inning, Williams loaded the bases by walking Spencer Torkelson on five pitches, allowing an infield single to Riley Greene and then walking Dillon Dingler. That brought up Zach McKinstry, who doubled and scored in the second inning. McKinstry worked the count full before striking out swinging, then Wenceel Perez struck out swinging on a curveball in the dirt.
Williams has eight strikeouts, but Detroit drove his pitch count up to 69.
Tarik Skubal had his first clean inning in the third, retiring Brayan Rocchio on a groundout, Austin Hedges on a broken-bat flyout and he struck out Steven Kwan on three consecutive pitches. Score: Tigers 1, Guardians 0.
Detroit could only muster one run despite opening the inning with back-to-back doubles. Gavin Williams bounced back to strike out Trey Sweeney, get Parker Meadows to fly out to deep center and Gleyber Torres to fly out to right. Score: Tigers 1, Guardians 0.
After retiring the first six batters in order, Gavin Williams allowed back-to-back doubles to Zach McKinstry and Wenceel Perez to get Detroit on the scoreboard first. Tigers are up 1-0 with a runner at second and no one out.
Gabriel Arias led off the bottom of the second with a seven-pitch walk, but he was then promptly picked off first base by catcher Dillon Dingler. Tarik Skubal then struck out Kyle Manzardo and Jhonkensy Noel (aka Big Christmas) to finish the second inning. Score: Guardians 0, Tigers 0.
Gavin Williams had another 1-2-3 inning, getting Spencer Torkelson on strikes, Riley Greene on a ground out to second, and Dillon Dingler to strikeout for his fourth K of the game. Score: Tigers 0, Guardians 0.
After a leadoff fly out by Steve Kwan, Angel Martinez reached on a bloop infield single to short and Jose Ramirez walked on four pitches to put Cleveland runners on first and second. But then Tarik Skubal got DH David Fry to roll into a 5-4-3 double play to end the threat. Score: Guardians 0, Tigers 0.
Gavin Williams had a 1-2-3 top of the first for the Guardians, getting Parker Meadows to open with a fly out to left field, and then striking out Gleyber Torres and Kerry Carpenter. Score: Tigers 0, Guardians coming to bat.
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025Time: 6:40 p.m. ETWhere: Progressive Field in ClevelandTV: FOX Sports Detroit, CLEGuardians.TVStream: Fubo
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The game time temperature is 72 degrees with clear skies at Progressive Field in downtown Cleveland.
Fresh off its three-game sweep last week in Comerica Park, Cleveland owns a 6-4 record against Detroit in 2025. That means one more victory will ensure the Guardians win the season series, and thus the head-to-head tiebreaker.
In his first full season in the Guardians’ rotation, Gavin Williams has emerged as the team’s ace with an 11-5 record and 3.06 ERA in 161⅔ innings pitched. He does, however, lead the league with 81 walks.
Williams has only allowed more than two earned runs once in six starts dating back to Aug. 14. He’s faced the Tigers twice this season and has not yielded a run in 11 innings with 17 strikeouts.
Flashy shortstop Javier Baez was originally in Detroit’s starting lineup, playing shortstop and batting ninth. But the team announced Baez has been scratched with neck stiffness, and Trey Sweeney will take his place.
Baez, 32, has enjoyed a bounceback season that included an appearance at the All-Star Game in Atlanta. He’s hitting .252 with 11 homers and 52 RBI, and his .670 OPS is his best since 2022, his first season in Motown.
The Tigers’ ace and reigning American League Cy Young Award winner is having another steller season, posting a 13-5 record with a 2.23 ERA and 0.88 WHIP, both AL bests.
In three starts this season against the Guardians, Skubal has gone 1-0 with a 0.41 ERA and 32 strikeouts with only two walks in 22 innings pitched.
September has been the worst month of his season, as Skubal has posted a 2.76 ERA in three starts.
Detroit — LHP, Tarik Skubal: 13-5, 2.23 ERA in 30 starts (189⅓ innings pitched)Cleveland — RHP, Gavin Williams: 11-5, 3.06 ERA in 30 starts (161⅔ innings pitched)Detroit Tigers starting lineupParker Meadows, CFGleyber Torres, 2BKerry Carpenter, DHSpencer Torkelson, 1BRiley Greene, LFDillon Dingler, CWenceel Perez, RFZach McKinstry, 3BJavier Baez, SSCleveland Guardians starting lineupSteven Kwan, LFAngel Martinez, CFJose Ramirez, 3BDavid Fry, DHGabriel Arias, SSKyle Manzardo, 1BJhonkensy Noel, RFBrayan Rocchio, 2BAustin Hedges, CTigers, Guardians remaining schedulesDetroit TigersSep. 23: @ Cleveland, 6:40 p.m. ETSep. 24: @ Cleveland, 6:40 p.m. ETSep. 25: @ Cleveland, 6:40 p.m. ETSep. 26: @ Boston, 7:10 p.m. ETSep. 27: @ Boston, 4:10 p.m. ETSep. 28: @ Boston, 3:05 p.m. ETCleveland GuardiansSep. 23: vs. Detroit, 6:40 p.m. ETSep. 24: vs. Detroit, 6:40 p.m. ETSep. 25: vs. Detroit, 6:40 p.m. ETSep. 26: vs. Texas, 7:10 p.m. ETSep. 27: vs. Texas, 7:15 p.m. ETSep. 28: vs. Texas, 3:10 p.m. ET
MLB playoff picture
If the season ended today, this would be the playoff seeding (* – clinched playoff berth):
American League*Toronto Blue Jays (90-66)Seattle Mariners (87-69)Detroit Tigers (85-71)New York Yankees (88-68)Boston Red Sox (84-72)Cleveland Guardians (84-72) – tiebreaker over Houston AstrosNational League*Milwaukee Brewers (95-62)*Philadelphia Phillies (92-64)*Los Angeles Dodgers (88-68)*Chicago Cubs (88-68)*San Diego Padres (86-71)Cincinnati Reds (90-76) – tiebreaker over New York Mets