Tigers Eliminate Guardians, Advance to ALDS

The Detroit Tigers advanced to the ALDS by defeating the Cleveland Guardians. The Tigers had a four-run seventh and strong bullpen work.

Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images

October 2, 2025

Tigers 6, Guardians 3

The Detroit Tigers advance to the ALDS by defeating the Cleveland Guardians 6-3 on Thursday. The Tigers got some stellar bullpen work and a four-run rally to eliminate the Guardians.

What Went Right for the Tigers

Tigers Finally Get the Big Hits

In the first two games of the series, the Tigers struggled mightily, going a combined 2-for-23 with runners in scoring position. They stranded a franchise-record 15 runners on base in Game Two. For the first six innings of Game Three, the struggles continued. The Tigers went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position in the first five innings.

In the sixth, Dillon Dingler hit a solo home run to give the Tigers the lead. In the seventh, the Tigers went 4-for-7 with runners in scoring position in the inning, breaking the game open. Wenceel Perez had a two-run single, and Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson each had run-scoring hits in the rally.

“The team with the biggest momentum or the most momentum was the one that was going to carry on,” Dingler said. “We were able to flip it right there, and we had a huge sixth inning, able to score some runs and be in the driver’s seat a little bit.”

Strong Bullpen

After giving up five runs in Game Two, the Tigers’ bullpen bounced back in Game Three. The relief quartet of Kyle Finnegan, Tyler Holton, Tommy Kahnle, and Will Vest went 4 1/3 innings and gave up two unearned runs.

When the Guardians got runners in scoring position in the eighth, Vest avoided major damage by getting George Valera to strike out and then throwing out Jose Ramirez on a quick tag by Javier Baez.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said that Tarik Skubal’s performance in Game One — 7 2/3 innings, one run — set the Tigers up for Game Three.

“When the third game comes around, we’re still feeling the effects of how Tarik was able to get us deep into the game,” he said. “We didn’t have a guy that threw three days in a row.”

What Went Wrong for the Tigers

Slow Offensive Start

In the third inning, the Tigers had runners on second and third with one out and a run already in. However, Perez popped out and Torkelson struck out to end the inning and limit the damage to one run. While they were fine because the Guardians had so much offensive trouble, the Tigers might not be as lucky in the ALDS against the Seattle Mariners, a better offensive team.

What Went Right for the Guardians

The Guardians got runners on second and third in the eighth. Both runs scored when Vest dropped the throw from Torkelson.

Guardians number two prospect Chase DeLauter had his first career hit in the second inning.

What Went Wrong for the Guardians

Bullpen Falters

The Guardians were a team led by pitching. After strong pitching performances in the first two games of the series, their typically stout bullpen faltered in Game Three.

Joey Cantillo gave up Dingler’s go-ahead solo homer in the sixth. Erik Sabrowski and Hunter Gaddis both struggled on their third straight day of work. The pair each surrendered two runs in the seventh.

“Erik and Hunter have been two of our best, and it’s unfortunate that the inning unfolded the way it did,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “And when you throw as much as they do, you’re going to have outings, and you just hope it doesn’t come at a time like that.”

More Offensive Struggles

The Guardians by far scored the fewest runs of any playoff team in the regular season. They ranked 18th with 643 runs, while the next closest postseason team was the San Diego Padres with 702. With the exception of the eighth inning in Game Two, the Guardians failed to get into any kind of offensive rhythm.

The Guardians had only three at-bats with runners in scoring position on Thursday. No player reached base safely multiple times. It was a cold offensive ending for a team that struggled to score at times this year.