The Detroit Tigers entered the postseason after one of the most dramatic regular-season collapses in recent memory. They once led the AL Central by double digits only to surrender that dominance down the stretch. Their late swoon allowed the Cleveland Guardians to overtake them, taking the division title and forcing Detroit to settle for a Wild Card spot.
Now, in the wild card round, Detroit faces their bitter Central rival on their home turf. Game 1 kicked off on Tuesday at Progressive Field as the Tigers looked for redemption. The pressure could hardly be higher: push forward, or watch a promising season vanish.
Game 1: Skubal’s Masterpiece
Tarik Skubal delivered a performance for the ages. In 7 2/3 innings he struck out 14 Guardians, holding them to one run on just three hits and navigating three walks. That total ties a Tigers playoff record (Joe Coleman, 1973) and cements this as one of the greatest postseason starts in franchise history.
Skubal’s strikeout burst came via a mix of elite command and swing-through stuff. The only blemish was a soft chopper that produced the run–a reminder of how even flawless outings carry risk. He threw 107 pitches, generating a large share of swings and misses in the process.
Detroit’s runs came the hard way. In the first, Spencer Torkelson drew across on a combination of a Guardians error and a single. In the seventh, the Tigers took the lead via a sacrifice bunt by Zack McKinstry, pushing a runner home with classic small-ball execution. That bunt stood out: in a postseason game, every play matters, and Detroit made it count.
The bullpen closed strong. Closer Will Vest handled the final frame, working around a leadoff error to preserve a 2-1 lead and seal the win.
Storylines to Watch & Implications for the Series
Cleveland didn’t hold back. They added top prospect Chase DeLauter to their Wild Card roster–despite him not appearing in the regular season–to inject youth and unpredictability into the mix.
That move signals they’re still searching for matchup advantages, whether via youth, power, or fresh arms. The Guardians know they’ll need more than just a good Game 1 performance to knock off Detroit.
For Detroit, this win isn’t just a point on the board; it’s validation after losing their division and a statement that they’re still dangerous. They need to prove the collapse was a fluke, not the beginning of a downward spiral.
What’s Ahead
The Tigers’ pitching plan for the rest of the series is clear: after Skubal’s Game 1 gem, Casey Mize is scheduled to start Game 2, and Jack Flaherty is lined up for Game 3 if the series goes the distance.
Mize’s postseason moment arrives fast. He was slotted into the Game 2 starter role, a chance to build on momentum or shift pressure onto Cleveland. His season has had ups and downs, but this is his chance to show he belongs when the games matter most. Detroit’s trust in him here reveals how deep their rotation must carry them in this series.
“It means a lot,” Mize said. “When you have your team trusting in you, your manager trusting in you, that’s always a great feeling as a competitor and as a teammate.”
Game 2 will take place Wednesday, Oct. 1 at 1:08 p.m. ET.
Flaherty takes the Game 3 role if needed. For a veteran of his caliber, that’s a high-leverage assignment. His regular-season performance will matter less than his ability to reset under playoff intensity. This could be where he defines himself anew—or where his postseason narrative truly tests him.
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