Analyzing MLB Wild Card postseason matchups
Bob Nightengale breaks down each of the four Wild Card matchups to kick off the 2025 MLB postseason.
Reports of the Detroit Tigers‘ death were greatly exaggerated.
The Tigers might have coughed up their 14-game lead in American League Central over the final 2½ months of the season, but they’re alive and well in the postseason and one win from a second consecutive appearance in the AL Division Series.
Detroit’s lefty ace Tarik Skubal dominated the Cleveland Guardians during a 2-1 win in Game 1 of their AL Wild Card Series, striking out 14 and allowing just one run on three hits in 7â…” innings pitched. A victory Wednesday would send them to Seattle to take on the AL West-winning Mariners.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt shrugged off Game 2 being a pressure situation for his club, which was eight games under .500 and well outside the playoff picture on July 6.
“Our backs have been against the wall for three months. What’s one more day?” Vogt told reporters after Tuesday’s game.
Here’s what you need to know for Game 2 of the AL wild-card series between the Tigers and Guardians on Wednesday, Oct. 1:
-123456789TOTDET00010000-1CLE10000002-3
Guardians second baseman Brayan Rocchio — who clinched Cleveland’s improbable AL Central division title on the final day of the regular season with a walk-off home run — has come through in the clutch once again. Facing new pticher Troy Melton, Rocchio got a fastball in the middle of the plate and hit it over the right field wall to put the Guardians ahead by one. Rocchio’s 379-foot blast, while not a majestic homer, would have been a home run in 29 of the 30 current MLB parks.
And the Guardians aren’t finished. Back-to-back doubles by Steven Kwan and Daniel Schneeman plated another run. After an intentional walk to Jose Ramirez, the Tigers go to the bullpen again for lefty Brant Hurter.
Zach McKinstry’s one-out walk brings up another key at-bat with Javier Baez at the plate. The Tigers stay out of an inning-ending double play by starting the runner as Baez hits a ground ball to third. With two outs, Cleveland turns to closer Cade Smith to face Tigers leadoff man Parker Meadows.
Smith comes through in the clutch, getting Meadows swinging at a splitter in the dirt. The Tigers are now 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position in the game. And we remain tied. Guardians 1, Tigers 1
The Tigers make several defensive changes after the parade of pinch-hitters in the top of the inning. Andy Ibañez is now playing third base and Zach McKinstry moves from third to left field with Riley Greene out.
Ibañez’s first play is a tough one, as he has to go into foul territory to field Gabriel Arias’ grounder. But 1B Spencer Torkelson displays some nifty footwork to flag down the throw. Cleveland goes three up, three down against Finnegan. Guardians 1, Tigers 1
The Tigers get their best threat since the go-ahead run was taken off the board in the fourth. Gleyber Torres reached base when a Hunter Gaddis pitch just grazed his jersey. Then Kerry Carpenter ripped a single to right-center, sending Torres to third with no one out. Spencer Torkelson can’t get the run in on a popup to shallow left field. Now it’s time for another Guardians pitching change with southpaw Tim Herrin entering.
Lefty-hitting Riley Greene, who led the Tigers with 36 home runs and 111 RBI during the regular season, gets called back for pinch-hitter Jahmai Jones as the Tigers seem to be going all-in for the win right here. But Herrin fans Jones for the second out and Wenceel Perez for the third to end the threat.
Nail-biting drama. Just what you want from the playoffs. Guardians 1, Tigers 1
The managerial wheels are starting to turn. After Guardians leadoff man Steven Kwan pops out and right-handed outfielder Johnathan Rodriguez is announced as a pinch-hitter, Tigers manager A.J. HInch goes to his bullpen for righty Kyle Finnegan. Guardians skipper Steven Vogt counters with another pinch-hitter, lefty Daniel Schneeman.
Finnegan, a trade deadline acquisition from the Washington Nationals, strikes out Schneeman and walks the dangerous Jose Ramirez before retiring Kyle Manzardo on a gounder to first. Guardians 1, Tigers 1
With two outs and a runner on first via a walk, the Guardians go to the bullpen. Right-hander Hunter Gaddis comes in to face shortstop Javier Baez. As he did in the fourth, Baez ripped a single through the infield. But with the go-ahead run in scoring position, Gaddis got Parker Meadows to hit a fly ball to center field. Though certainly not a routine play, especially in today’s conditions, Chase DeLauter reached out and snagged it to end the Detroit threat. Guardians 1, Tigers 1
Tyler Holton pitches a second scoreless inning in relief for the Tigers, working around a two-out single by C.J. Kayfus. Guardians 1, Tigers 1
Casey Mize (DET): 3 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 62 pitches (37 strikes)Tanner Bibee (CLE): 4 2/3 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 87 pitches (56 strikes)
Neither pitcher will factor into the decision.
Both starting pitchers are now out of the game. After allowing a two-out single to Kerry Carpenter and a walk to Spencer Torkelson, the Guardians replace Tanner Bibee with lefty reliever Jason Sabrowski. On his first pitch to Riley Greene, Sabrowski gets a routine fly ball to center for the final out. Guardians 1, Tigers 1
After a leadoff walk to Jose Ramirez, the Tigers go to the bullpen. Casey Mize comes out after throwing just 62 pitches in favor of left-hander Tyler Holton. The strategy pays off immediately as lefty-swinging DH Kyle Manzardo grounds into a double play. Holton gets catcher Bo Naylor on a grounder to third to end the inning. Guardians 1, Tigers 1
The bright sunshine may have had an impact on Riley Greene’s one-out liner to right. The Guardians’ George Valera hesitated slightly in trying to flag it down as the ball got past him and bounced off the outfield wall. Greene never slowed down around first base and slid head-first into second with a double. He moved to third on a Wenceel Perez groundout before Bibee walked the next two batters to load the bases.
Javier Baez then gounded an 0-1 fastball up the middle for what appeared to be a two-run single to put the Tigers ahead. However, the Guardians challenged the safe call as runner Zach McKinstry tried to go from first to third on the play. After review, McKinstry was ruled out on the bang-bang play AND the replay official ruled that the out was recorded before Dillon Dingler crossed the plate with the Tigers’ second run. Guardians 1, Tigers 1
Chase DeLauter just saved a run with this outfield assist.
Overturned to out at third base, and second run wiped off the board. What an eventful debut. pic.twitter.com/CwTfypMgMe
— Tim Stebbins (@tim_stebbins) October 1, 2025
Mize needs only six pitches to retire the side, He needed it too, as he’s up to 53 through three innings. Guardians 1, Tigers 0
Gleyber Torres ends a streak of eight consecutive batters retired by Bibee with a two-out single to left. He moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, but could get no further as Kerry Carpenter fouled out to third baseman Jose Ramirez. Guardians 1, Tigers 0
Chase DeLauter gets a standing ovation as he comes to the plate with two outs for his first at-bat as a major leaguer. After going into an early two-strike hole, the 2022 first-rounder from James Madison battled back to draw a walk. Fellow rookie C.J. Kayfus grounded out to first to end the inning. Guardians 1, Tigers 0
After misplaying a fly ball in the sun in the opening inning, rookie center fielder Chase DeLauter received a rousing ovation when he flagged down an otherwise routine fly ball by the Tigers’ Wenceel Perez to lead off the second. Detroit goes in order. Guardians 1, Tigers 0
Another Guardians rookie outfielder makes his mark in the postseason as George Valera locked in on a Casey Mize fastball for a solo homer to give Cleveland the early lead. The lefty-swinging Valera, who hit two home runs in 41 at-bats with the Guardians during the regular season, sent a 3-2 pitch from Mize 411 feet into the right field seats. Guardians 1, Tigers 0
Leadoff hitter Parker Meadows reached on an infield single that Guardians second baseman Brayan Rocchio couldn’t corral. Rocchio appeared to tweak his wrist on the play, but remained in the game.
Immediately afterward, the sunny and windy conditions wreaked havoc on rookie center fielder Chase DeLauter, who couldn’t corral Gleyber Torres’ high fly ball. It clanked off his glove for an error. But Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee picked up his teammates by striking out the next three hitters to get out of the jam unscathed.
What time is Tigers vs. Guardians Game 2?Date:Â Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025Start time:Â 1:08 p.m. ET
Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series between the Tigers and Guardians will start at 1:08 p.m. ET from Progressive Field in Cleveland.
What channel is Tigers vs. Guardians Game 2?TV channel: ESPNStreaming: ESPN app, FuboMLB postseason bracket
American League
National League
Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports MLB writers and editors see the Tigers-Guardians wild-card series shaking out:
Bob Nightengale: Guardians in 3Gabe Lacques: Tigers in 2Jesse Yomtov: Guardians in 2
Right-hander Casey Mize will get the Game 2 start for Detroit after posting the best season of his five-year career. Mize, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft, went 14-6 with a 3.87 ERA in 28 starts in 2025. In three starts against the Guardians this season, Mize was 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 17.1 innings.
Tanner Bibee will be tasked with keeping Cleveland’s season alive. Bibee took a step back in 2025, going 12-11 with a 4.24 ERA. However, the right-hander was lights out during his final four starts to the regular season, going 3-0 with a 1.30 ERA. That stretch included two outings against the Tigers, against whom Bibee allowed two earned runs in 12 innings with 13 strikeouts.
Parker Meadows, CFGleyber Torres, 2BKerry Carpenter, DHSpencer Torkelson, 1BRiley Greene, LFWenceel Perez, RFDillon Dingler, CZach McKinstry, 3BJavier Baez, SSSteven Kwan, LFGeorge Valera, RFJose Ramirez, 3BKyle Manzardo, DHBo Naylor, CGabriel Arias, SSChase DeLauter, CFC.J. Kayfus, 1BBrayan Rocchio, 2B
Wild Card Series
Tuesday, Sept. 30
Tigers 2, Guardians 1 (Detroit leads 1-0)Cubs 3, Padres 1 (Chicago leads 1-0)Red Sox 3, Yankees 1 (Boston leads 1-0)Dodgers 10, Reds 5 (Los Angeles leads 1-0)
Wednesday, Oct. 1
Tigers at Guardians, Game 2: 1:08 p.m. ET, ESPNPadres at Cubs, Game 2: 3:08 p.m. ET, ABCRed Sox at Yankees, Game 2: 6:08 p.m. ET, ESPNReds at Dodgers, Game 2: 9:08 p.m. ET, ESPN
Thursday, Oct. 2
(Game 3 schedule subject to change)
Tigers at Guardians, Game 3: 1:08 p.m. ET, ESPN * if necessaryPadres at Cubs, Game 3: 3:08 p.m. ET, ABC * if necessaryRed Sox at Yankees, Game 3: 6:08 p.m. ET, ESPN * if necessaryReds at Dodgers, Game 4: 9:08 p.m. ET, ESPN * if necessary
Detroit finished 87-75 to each the No. 6 wild card in the American League. The Tigers held a 14-game lead in the division on July 8 but went 28-41 after that and lost the AL Central lead during the final week of the season.
Cleveland was 88-74, rallying from a 15.5-game deficit in early July to win its second consecutive division title. The Guardians went 48-26 after losing to the Tigers on July 6, that included winning 18 of their final 22 games and taking five of six from the Tigers in the final two weeks.
The Guardians made the surprising decision to put outfielder Chase DeLauter on their 26-man roster for the wild-card round. DeLauter will start in center field for Cleveland during Game 2 and bat seventh. It’s surprising because DeLauter, Cleveland’s first-round pick in the 2022 MLB draft, has yet to make his major-league debut. DeLauter, who has slashed .302/.384/.504 in three minor league seasons, will give the Guardians another left-handed bat off the bench and a strong defensive outfielder that can play all three spots.