In a high-stakes Game 5 of the American League Division Series, the Detroit Tigers faced off against the Cleveland Guardians in an emotionally intense battle.

The Guardians proved to be too strong offensively for the Tigers, winning Game 5 by a score of 7-3. The Tigers, who have faced challenges due to trades and injuries, completed a commendable playoff run in the ALDS. Meanwhile, the Guardians continue their quest for a World Series championship, aiming to end the longest championship drought in baseball history.

Tigers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal, a leading contender for the AL Cy Young Award, took the mound just five days after delivering an impressive performance against the Guardians. However, this time he only lasted six innings, giving up five runs.

The Guardians will now proceed to face the New York Yankees, who defeated the Kansas City Royals in their ALDS series. YSL News Sports has you covered with highlights, exciting moments, analysis, and more from this thrilling matchup between the Tigers and Guardians.

Guardians vs. Yankees: ALCS Schedule

• Oct. 14: Guardians at Yankees, 7:37 p.m., TBS/truTV/Max
• Oct. 15: Guardians at Yankees, 7:37 p.m., TBS/truTV/Max
• Oct. 17: Yankees at Guardians
• Oct. 18: Yankees at Guardians
• Oct. 19: Yankees at Guardians (if necessary)
• Oct. 21: Guardians at Yankees (if necessary)
• Oct. 22: Guardians at Yankees (if necessary)

Cleveland Advances to the ALCS

The Cleveland Guardians showcased their offensive strength by scoring seven runs during the game, which was shifted from night to early afternoon due to weather forecasts.

Though the Detroit Tigers fought valiantly, taking the series to a full five games, they conclude a spirited season while the Guardians prepare to make their way to New York.

Guardians Hold Four-Run Lead Heading to Ninth

The Guardians are just three outs away from reaching the ALCS against the Yankees, boasting a four-run advantage thanks to a single from Rocchio that brought Gimenez home.

Guardians on Defense

Emmanuel Clase took over for Morgan after Meadows walked, and he quickly showcased his skills with a fantastic catch from Rocchio on a line drive. Clase then struck out Carpenter to solidify the defense.

Cleveland is closing in on a spot in the ALCS.

Score: Guardians 6, Tigers 3

Still Fighting, Guardians Add More Runs

With Will Vest no longer on the pitchers’ mound, Tyler Holton stepped in after the Tigers managed some hits. Before long, Lane Thomas came up big again, netting an RBI hit.

Holton managed to stop the Tigers’ momentum as they prepared for their final at-bats with slim chances of prolonging their season.

Score: Guardians 6, Tigers 3

Guardians Just Six Outs Away

Morgan replaced the pitcher and delivered a brilliant performance against a revved-up Tigers lineup, striking out Perez and Torkelson. The Guardians are now just six outs away from reaching the ALCS.

Tigers Score, Guardians Back to the Bullpen

The Guardians’ pitching depth is being tested against the pesky Tigers. After giving up a run-scoring double, Gaddis exited, and Eli Morgan came in to maintain the lead.

Score: Guardians 5, Tigers 3

Skubal Carries the Tigers into the Sixth

Despite some challenges, Skubal has been doing his best to lead the team, and he secured a quick inning the Tigers desperately needed to regain composure.

Tigers Begin to Fight Back

Detroit chipped away at the Guardians’ lead, with Jake Rogers hitting a single that scored Torkelson and moved Meadows to third. With the bases loaded, however, a struggling Kerry Carpenter stepped up to bat but struck out against Gaddis, allowing Cleveland to escape without further damage.

Score: Guardians 5, Tigers 2

Guardians Shift to the Bullpen

As the bullpen duties continue for the Guardians, Herrin performed admirably but allowed a double to Torkelson and issued a walk to Meadows, leading to Hunter Gaddis being called in to protect the lead.

Lane Thomas Hits a Grand Slam Amid Skubal’s Troubles

The inning began with promising hits from Gimenez and Steven Kwan, setting up the bases loaded. Tarik Skubal hit Jose Ramirez, which allowed the score to tie. Then, Lane Thomas capitalized on Skubal’s first pitch with a grand slam, quickly elevating his status among fans.

Score: Guardians 5, Tigers 1

Guardians Escape a Potential Jam

As Cleveland faced an early deficit, Herrin stepped up and induced a crucial double play, allowing the Guardians to regain their momentum.

Guardians Turn to Bullpen Again

The Vogt experiment seems to be having some negative effects. After allowing the only run of the game, Walters has exited, and Tim Herrin has come in with one out, while Carpenter is on first base.

Carpenter’s Single Puts Tigers on Board

Andrew Walters, now the fourth pitcher for the Guardians, walked Sweeney quickly. Then Carpenter’s substantial hit to right field brought the runner home from first base, giving Detroit a 1-0 lead.

Skubal Dominating for the Tigers

The Guardians had a promising start in the third inning, but struggled to find momentum in the fourth. Skubal has completed four innings, allowing just two hits and one walk, while striking out four batters.

Top 5: Tigers 0, Guardians 0

Cade Smith Exits as Erik Sabrowski Takes Over for Cleveland

Spencer Torkelson likes to keep the pressure on.

Cade Smith had been pitching well, striking out three batters in just under two innings, but a double hit by Torkelson forced him to leave the game without scoring. Sabrowski came in with a runner on second, threw some wild pitches, and issued a walk to Parker Meadows. Fortunately for the Guardians, it didn’t cost them, as the score remains tied heading into the bottom of the fourth.

Guardians Put Pressure on in the Third

Skubal was going smoothly until Rocchio hit a single to left. Following that, Steven Kwan stepped in and doubled to left, putting runners in scoring position. An intentional walk for Ramirez loaded the bases.

However, Lane Thomas popped out right after, ending the inning. Nonetheless, Cleveland managed to show that Skubal can be challenged and proved they could string some hits together.

Boyd Off, Cade Smith On

Matthew Boyd leaves the game after striking out five, making way for Cade Smith. This raised questions at home about whether manager Stephen Vogt might be overthinking his decisions.

In any case, Smith had a clean inning, retiring all three batters he faced.

Skubal Handles Guardians with Ease

Skubal breezed through the inning, needing just 11 pitches to record a strikeout and two groundouts. Both teams have a hit while the game remains scoreless.

Tigers Create Opportunities in the Second

Matthew Boyd has been effective early, but Parker Meadows connected for a double down the left field line. Not satisfied, Meadows stole third base while Jake Rogers faced a flurry of inside sliders, ultimately popping out to right field without enough distance for Meadows to score.

Boyd managed to strike out Sweeney, leaving the Tigers with just a runner in scoring position for the inning.

Kwan Gets to Skubal with a Comeback Hit

It’s still early in the game, but there’s plenty of action underway. Steven Kwan kicked things off by hitting a hard shot up the middle that Skubal couldn’t field, allowing Kwan to reach first base.

After Kwan’s hit, Skubal induced a couple of outs to end the inning, showing signs of nerves on both sides. With that, we move on to the second inning, still scoreless after one.

Boyd Navigates Early Challenges

Matthew Boyd managed to get through a shaky start that included a hit batter, a strikeout, and a walk. He then found his rhythm, striking out Ibanez and Perez, which energized the Guardians crowd in Cleveland.

Game Starts with a Hit Batter for Tigers

Just one pitch into the game, the Tigers had their first base runner after Boyd hit Justyn-Henry Malloy. The Guardians lefty quickly regained his composure and struck out Vierling on three pitches.

Tigers-Guardians ALDS Game 5 Schedule

• The game is set to start at 1:08 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 12, at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

Where to Watch ALDS Game 5

• You can catch the game on TBS and Max.

Streaming Options for ALDS Game 5

• If you want to stream, you can use Sling.

Tigers-Guardians Betting Odds

The Detroit Tigers are predicted to win against the Cleveland Guardians in Saturday’s ALDS Game 5, per the BetMGM MLB odds. Check out the best betting apps in 2024 for top promotions and bonuses if you’re interested in wagering.

• Spread: Tigers (-1.5)
• Moneyline: Tigers (-125), Guardians (+105)
• Over/under: 6

Tigers vs. Guardians ALDS Game Schedule and Scores

• Game 1: Guardians 7, Tigers 0
• Game 2: Tigers 3, Guardians 0
• Game 3: Tigers 3, Guardians 0
• Game 4: Guardians 5, Tigers 4
• Game 5: At Cleveland, 1:08 p.m. ET

Tigers Starting Pitcher

Tarik Skubal will be taking the mound for Detroit. The lefty boasts an impressive record of 18-4, with a 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts over 192 innings in the regular season. This marks Skubal’s third start of the 2024 postseason, during which he has yet to concede a run in 13 innings, accumulating 14 strikeouts and allowing only one walk. He previously overwhelmed the Guardians in Game 2 of the ALDS, pitching seven innings with three hits and eight strikeouts, retiring the first 13 batters faced.

Guardians Starting Pitcher

Cleveland is sending out Matthew Boyd, who made just eight starts during the regular season but performed exceptionally well. After recovering from over a year of injury absence, Boyd returned to pitch in August, achieving a 2-2 record with a 2.72 ERA over 39 2/3 innings with the Guardians. He faced off against his friend and former Tigers teammate Tarik Skubal in Game 2 of the ALDS, managing to keep Detroit scoreless for 4 2/3 innings while striking out five batters.

Tigers Starting Lineup

Weather Forecast for Guardians-Tigers Game

According to AccuWeather, the temperatures during the game will be in the low to mid-60s with partly sunny conditions in downtown Cleveland. Rain is expected to start around 6 p.m. ET.

Guardians Lineup

Why Was the Tigers-Guardians Game Time Changed?

On Friday, the Guardians, in agreement with Major League Baseball, announced that the start time for Game 5 at Progressive Field in Cleveland has been moved to 1:08 p.m. ET due to forecasted bad weather anticipated for Saturday evening. The weather forecast indicates that rain will begin around 8 p.m. on Saturday and continue into Sunday, as reported by The Weather Channel. The game was originally scheduled to start at 8:08 p.m. ET. — Mark Giannotto

Tigers’ 2024 Season

Following a defeat on August 10, Detroit fell to eight games under .500 with a record of 55-63. However, they rallied in their last 44 games, going 31-13, finishing the regular season at 86-76, which secured them the third wild card spot and the No. 6 seed in the American League. The Tigers managed to defeat the AL West champion Houston Astros in two games during the wild-card round.

Guardians’ 2024 Season

Cleveland achieved a record of 92-69, clinching the AL Central title for the second time in three years. By having the second-best record in the American League, the Guardians received a bye into the division series.

Tigers’ Manager

A.J. Hinch is currently in his fourth year as the manager of the Tigers. This marks his first playoff appearance with Detroit. However, he has experienced postseason success previously, leading the Houston Astros to the World Series twice in five seasons and winning it in 2017 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hinch was handed a one-year suspension following the 2019 season due to his inaction in a sign-stealing scandal. The same day he was suspended, he was also dismissed by Astros owner Jim Crane.

Guardians’ Manager

Stephen Vogt is in his first season as the Guardians’ manager, having only finished playing in 2022. He took over from Terry Francona, the franchise’s all-time winning manager, who led the team to six playoff appearances during his 11 years at the helm.

Tigers’ World Series Championships

• 1935: Defeated Chicago Cubs, 4-2
• 1945: Defeated Chicago Cubs, 4-3
• 1968: Defeated St. Louis Cardinals, 4-3
• 1984: Defeated San Diego Padres, 4-1

Guardians’ World Series Championships

• 1920: Defeated Brooklyn Robins, 5-2
• 1948: Defeated Boston Braves, 4-2

Longest Active World Series Drought

The last time Cleveland won the World Series was 75 years ago in 1948. Shortly after World War II ended, Cleveland triumphed over the Boston Braves in six games, marking their second World Series victory in franchise history. — Jason Anderson

ALCS Schedule

• Oct. 14: Tigers/Guardians at Yankees, 7:37 p.m., TBS/truTV/Max
• Oct. 15: Tigers/Guardians at Yankees, 7:37 p.m., TBS/truTV/Max
• Oct. 17: Yankees at Tigers/Guardians
• Oct. 18: Yankees at Tigers/Guardians
• Oct. 19: Yankees at Tigers/Guardians (if necessary)
• Oct. 21: Tigers/Guardians at Yankees (if necessary)
• Oct. 22: Tigers/Guardians at Yankees (if necessary)

NLCS Schedule

• Oct. 13: Mets at Dodgers 8:15 p.m., FOX
• Oct. 14: Mets at Dodgers 4:08 p.m., FOX/FS1
• Oct. 16: Dodgers at Mets, 8:08 p.m., FS1
• Oct. 17: Dodgers at Mets
• Oct. 18: Dodgers at Mets (if necessary)
• Oct. 20: Mets at Dodgers (if necessary)
• Oct. 21: Mets at Dodgers (if necessary)

World Series Schedule

• Oct. 25: Game 1
• Oct. 26: Game 2
• Oct. 28: Game 3
• Oct. 29: Game 4
• Oct. 30: Game 5 (if necessary)
• Nov. 1: Game 6 (if necessary)
• Nov. 2: Game 7 (if necessary)