CLEVELAND — The Guardians and Tigers will go head-to-head yet again.
Last October, the Guardians took down Detroit in a winner-take-all Game 5 in the ALDS thanks to Lane Thomas’ grand slam off Tarik Skubal. That series was about as back-and-forth as it could be, and it’s somewhat fitting that the in-division rivals who took opposite paths to this point meet in the first round.
Game 1 of the best-of-3 series is set for 1:08 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30. Game 2 and, if necessary, Game 3 will also feature 1:08 first pitches the following days, all at Progressive Field.
Here are Wild Card Series predictions from Beacon Journal sports writers Ryan Lewis and Nate Ulrich.
Guardians vs. Tigers prediction: Who wins the American League Wild Card Series?
Lewis: The Tigers being able to throw Tarik Skubal within a best-of-3 series is a pretty significant advantage. The Guardians did go 2-2 against him this year, but he also had a 0.64 ERA in those games. Still, the Guardians have been undeniable, even to an unexplainable degree, while Detroit has been free falling for most of September. Even if Skubal shuts them down in Game 1, the Guardians have been at their best with their backs against the wall. I’ll take the Guardians to win a close Wild Card Series 2-1.
Ulrich: Losing Game 1 and then rallying to win the next two games would be fitting for the 2025 Guardians, who clawed back from a 15½-game deficit in the standings to surpass the Tigers for the AL Central Division title. This crystal ball may be defective, but the Guardians taking the series 2-1 is the path it’s showing.
The Beacon Journal sports department can be contacted via email at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com.