The Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians are locked in a high-stakes battle tonight, with Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series set to determine who advances in the playoffs. After a thrilling back-and-forth over the past two days, both teams head into Progressive Field in Cleveland carrying the weight of their dramatic swings. The Tigers grabbed the early edge on Tuesday, shutting down the Guardians 2-1 behind Tarik Skubal's masterful 14-strikeout gem, a performance that silenced the home crowd and put Detroit one win from the Division Series.
However, the Guardians refused to fade quietly. In Game 2, Cleveland exploded for five runs in the eighth inning—fueled by two home runs—to erase a 1-1 tie and steal a 6-1 victory. That resilience, sparked by key hits from their lineup, keeps the series alive and amps up the pressure on both sides. Indeed, this winner-take-all matchup feels like a microcosm of the AL Central rivalry that defined their regular season, where the Guardians clawed back from a historic deficit to snag the division crown at Detroit's expense.
Today's schedule kicks off at 7:08 p.m. ET, with the Tigers turning to their ace again—Skubal on the mound for a potential repeat heroics—while Cleveland counters with Tanner Bibee, hoping to harness home-field energy. Predictions lean slightly toward Detroit's pitching edge, but the Guardians' timely offense could flip the script in this do-or-die scenario. For fans tuning in via radio, broadcasts are available on stations like 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit and 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland, plus SiriusXM channels 83 and 84 for nationwide coverage, ensuring every pitch echoes across the airwaves.
Moreover, the Tigers' schedule beyond this hangs in the balance; a win propels them toward a likely clash with the Yankees, while elimination ends a surprising playoff run. The Guardians, meanwhile, eye deeper postseason glory after their late-season surge. As the lights dim over Progressive Field, one question lingers: will Detroit's momentum carry them through, or can Cleveland's grit rewrite the narrative once more?