In a nail-biting finish that capped off their improbable playoff run, the Detroit Tigers defeated the Cleveland Guardians 6-3 in Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series on Thursday night. Dillon Dingler's homer in the sixth and a four-run seventh inning sealed the deal, sending Detroit to face the Seattle Mariners in the American League Division Series. It's the Tigers' second straight year in the ALDS, but this time they're the underdogs as the No. 6 seed against Seattle's No. 2 perch.
Indeed, the momentum feels different now. After choking away a 15-game division lead in September, Detroit clawed back just in time, exorcising those late-season demons against the very team that overtook them. Wenceel Pérez's bases-loaded single earlier in the series hinted at this grit, but Thursday's win was decisive. The Guardians, who staged MLB's biggest comeback in standings history, couldn't muster the magic in their home park.
Moreover, the schedule for this best-of-five showdown is locked in, with Seattle hosting the first two games at T-Mobile Park. Game 1 kicks off Saturday, Oct. 4, at either 1:08 p.m. PT on FOX or 5:38 p.m. PT on FS1, depending on the AL East wild card outcome. Game 2 follows Sunday, Oct. 5, at 5:03 p.m. PT, also on FOX or FS1. If needed, Game 3 shifts to Comerica Park in Detroit on Tuesday, Oct. 7, with times TBD but likely evening slots. Games 4 and 5, should they go that far, would wrap up back in Seattle on Thursday and Friday.
However, travel and pitching matchups add layers here. Tarik Skubal's ace arm could dominate early for the Tigers, while Seattle's Bryan Woo status remains optimistic but unconfirmed. The Mariners, with their 90-72 regular-season mark, earned home-field edge, yet Detroit's recent surge—winning five of six to snag the wild card—suggests nothing's guaranteed. Fans in the Motor City are buzzing about potential home games, though tickets won't come cheap amid the hype.
This ALDS pits two teams with playoff scars against each other, blending Detroit's resilience with Seattle's steady rotation. As the first pitch approaches, one can't help but ponder how these wild card survivors will redefine October's narrative.