The Detroit Tigers pulled off a gritty 6-3 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series on Thursday night, ending Cleveland's playoff hopes and booking their spot in the American League Division Series against the Seattle Mariners. It was a tense affair at Progressive Field, where the Tigers, down but never out, exploded for key runs in the later innings to seal the deal. Tarik Skubal's earlier dominance in Game 1 had set the tone, but this win came courtesy of a resilient bullpen and timely hitting that exposed Cleveland's vulnerabilities.
Indeed, the series had been a rollercoaster. Detroit took the opener 2-1 behind Skubal's 14 strikeouts, a masterpiece that left Guardians fans stunned. Cleveland fired back in Game 2, though, with late homers from Brayan Rocchio and Bo Naylor powering a 6-1 comeback win, forcing the decisive third game. However, the Tigers' offense clicked when it mattered most yesterday—three runs in the sixth and two more in the eighth proved insurmountable. Final series tally: Tigers 2, Guardians 1. For Detroit, it's redemption after a late-season collapse that handed the AL Central to Cleveland; now they face Seattle starting Saturday.
Watching the action unfold was straightforward for fans. The games aired nationally on ESPN, with local coverage on Bally Sports Detroit for Tigers supporters and Bally Sports Great Lakes for the Guardians crowd. Streaming options included MLB.tv and the ESPN app, while radio broadcasts hit the airwaves via 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit and 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland. Predictions had leaned toward a Guardians sweep early on, given their home advantage, but Detroit's underdog fire flipped the script.
Moreover, whispers about Cleveland's pitching woes—Will Vest's relief appearances notwithstanding—lingered throughout. The Guardians, once darlings of a historic division turnaround, now head into an uncertain offseason. Yet, as the Tigers gear up for deeper playoff runs, one can't help but wonder how far this resilient squad from Motown can actually go.