Game 5 of the American League division series was an emotionally charged clash between the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Guardians.
The Guardians were simply too potent on offense for the upstart Tigers, taking Game 5, 7-3. A Tigers team depleted by trades and injury end an admirable run into the ALDS. Meanwhile, the Guardians continue their march into history, hoping to erase the longest World Series drought in baseball.
Tarik Skubal, the Tigers left-handed starting pitcher and the likely AL Cy Young Award winner, took the mound five days after limiting the Guardians to three hits in seven scoreless innings. He would go six innings and give up five runs.
The Guardians now take on the New York Yankees, who eliminated the Kansas City Royals in four games in their ALDS. USA TODAY Sports has the highlights, wild plays, analysis and more from a classic Tigers-Guardians game.
Guardians vs. Yankees: When is the ALCS?
- 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)
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Cleveland Guardians ALCS bound
The Cleveland Guardians exploded for seven runs on Saturday in a game that went from a night game to an early afternoon affair thanks to impending weather.
The Detroit Tigers not only put up a fight put took the formidable side to five games, but will bring an inspired season to a close while Cleveland march onto New York.
Cleveland has 4-run lead heading into ninth inning
The Guardians need just three more outs before punching a ticket to the ALCS to face the New York Yankees. They will have a four-run lead thanks to a Rocchio single that scored Gimenez.
Guardians defend
Emmanuel Clase came in to relieve Morgan after a walk to Meadows. And he immediately got some help in the web gem department. Rocchio climbed the ladder on a Jake Rogers line to left. Then Clase threw gas to get Carpenter.
Cleveland can taste the ALCS.
Score: Guardians 6, Tigers 3
Still hungry Guardians score
A tired Will Vest gets a short leash and is now out of the game for Tyler Holton. Vest had allowed a couple of hits before Lane Thomas came up again and worked his magic with a run scoring hit.
Holton stopped the bleeding and the Tigers head up to bat with dwindling chances to keep their season alive.
Score: Guardians 6, Tigers 3
Guardians are now six outs away
Morgan came in and got the job done. Blanking a rejuvenated Tigers team, striking out Perez and Torkelson. Now the Guardians are six outs away from the ALCS.
Tigers score, Guardians back to bullpen
It’s time to wonder if the Guardians have enough arms to withstand those pesky Tigers. After giving up a run-scoring double, Gaddis is the latest Cleveland pitcher to take a seat. Now Eli Morgan takes the bump with a two-run lead.
Score: Guardians 5, Tigers 3
Skubal gets the Tigers through six
Detroit has had its struggles, but Skubal is carrying this team as best he can. A 1-2-3 inning is just what the Tigers needed to get some momentum back.
Tigers strike back
Detroit whittles away at the lead. Jake Rogers singled to right, scoring Torkelson and moving Meadows to third. With the bases loaded, after a walk to Sweeney, a limping Kerry Carpenter came to the plate but couldn’t match the heat. Gaddis gets the strikeout and Cleveland gets away using one of their lifelines.
Score: Guardians 5, Tigers 2
Guardians go to the bullpen
Vogt’s bullpen game continues. Herrin did a nice job of things but issued double to Torkelson and a walk to Meadows. Now the Guardians look to Hunter Gaddis to maintain the lead.
Lane Thomas hits grand slam as Skubal struggles
The inning started with an auspicious turn of events. Gimenez gets a nice slap to left to start the frame. Then Steven Kwan slapped another to left to get on as well. That’s when Fry blooped one just between first and second, giving him enough time to leg it out.
With the bases loaded, Skubal hit Jose Ramirez on the left forearm to tie the game. Then first-pitch hitting Lane Thomas comes in and promptly becomes a local folk hero with a grand slam on Skubal’s first-pitch fastball.
Score: Guardians 5, Tigers 1
Guardians get out of jam
Herrin got the memo and induced a quick double play, and Cleveland is now up. They face a 1-0 deficit and their own season mortality.
Guardians again go to the bullpen
The great Vogt experiment is playing out to some detriment. Walters is now out of the game after giving up the game’s lone run. Now Tim Herrin is in with one out and Carpenter on first.
Tigers score on Carpenter single
Andrew Walters is the fourth Guardians pitcher and issued a quick walk to Sweeney. A huge hit from Carpenter to right gets the runner home from first. Detroit now leads 1-0.
Skubal cruising for Tigers
After a promising third, the Guardians couldn’t get much going in the fourth. Skubal is now through four innings and has allowed two hits and a walk while punching out four.
Top 5: Tigers 0, Guardians 0
Cade Smith leaves the game as Erik Sabrowski comes in for Cleveland
Spencer Torkelson likes things spicy.
Smith had been cruising with his fastball, getting three strikeouts through just under two innings. But a Torkelson double forces him out of this scoreless game.
With a runner on second, Sabrowski flirted around the plate and ended up issuing a walk to Parker Meadows. It didn’t come to hurt the Guardians and we still have no score heading into the bottom of four.
Guardians threaten in the third
Skubal was cruising until that pesky Rocchio singled to left. That’s not what you want with Steven Kwan up next, which leads to a double to left and runners in scoring position. An intentional walk to Ramirez and the bases were juiced.
All of this was fodder, because Lane Thomas immediately popped out to end the inning. Still, Cleveland came away with more than a moral victory here. They proved Skubal is fallible today and they can string some hits together.
Boyd is out, Cade Smith is in
Matthew Boyd takes a seat with five strikeouts, making way for Cade Smith to come into the game. Now it’s time for managers at home to second-guess Stephen Vogt on whether the skipper is overthinking things.
Well, the reviews are in and Smith got through the inning 1-2-3.
Skubal makes quick work of the Guardians
Skubal with a ho-hum inning. He takes 11 pitches to get a strikeout and a couple of infield grounders. Cleveland and Detroit boast a hit each in a scoreless game.
Tigers flirt in the top of the second
Matthew Boyd has the slider working early. But Parker Meadows was one Tiger not fooled, slicing a double into left field. Not being one to do any laurel resting, Meadows then stole third as Jake Rogers enjoyed a barrage of sliders on the inside of the plate before popping out to right. It wasn’t deep enough for Meadows to score, however.
Boyd then gets Sweeney swinging and Detroit is left to be content with getting a runner in scoring position in this inning.
Kwan sits Skubal down with a comebacker
The game is early but plenty of action already. Steven Kwan opens things up by hitting a shot up the middle. Skubal can’t field it and the Guardians outfielder gets to first.
After that, the Tigers ace induced a couple of outs to end the inning. There is a sense of nerves on both sides of the diamond but we may be through early emotions. Onto the second inning. No score after one.
Boyd gets through bumpy start
Matthew Boyd got through unscathed after issuing a hit batter, strikeout and walk to start the first frame. He then settled and struck out Ibanez and Perez and the Guardians crowd is alive in Cleveland.
Tigers-Guardians begins with a hit batter
We are one pitch in and the Tigers are on first after Boyd hits Justyn-Henry Malloy. The Guardians lefty settled down instantly and punched out Vierling on three pitches.
When is Tigers-Guardians ALDS Game 5?
- First pitch is scheduled for 1:08 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 12 from Progressive Field in Cleveland.
How to watch Tigers-Guardians ALDS Game 5
- The game will be broadcast on TBS and Max.
How to stream Tigers-Guardians ALDS Game 5
- The game is available to stream by using Sling.
Tigers at Guardians odds, line
The Detroit Tigers are favorites to defeat the Cleveland Guardians in Saturday’s ALDS Game 5, according to the BetMGM MLB odds. Looking to wager? Check out the top betting apps in 2024 offering the top betting promos and bonuses.
- Spread: Tigers (-1.5)
- Moneyline: Tigers (-125), Guardians (+105)
- Over/under: 6
Tigers at Guardians ALDS Schedule, 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 get the start for Detroit. The left-hander went 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts in 192 regular-season innings. This will be Skubal’s third postseason start of 2024, and he has yet to allow a run in 13 innings with 14 strikeouts and just one walk. He muzzled the Guardians in Game 2 of the ALDS, pitching seven innings and allowing three hits with eight strikeouts. He set down the first 13 batters he faced.
Guardians starting pitcher
Cleveland will go with Matthew Boyd, who only made eight starts during the regular season but shined. After missing more than a year due to injury, Boyd returned to the mound in August and compiled a 2-2 record with a 2.72 ERA in 39 2/3 innings with the Guardians. He opposed his friend and former Tigers teammate Tarik Skubal in Game 2 of the ALDS and held Detroit scoreless in 4 2/3 innings with five strikeouts.
Tigers starting lineup
Cleveland weather for Tigers-Guardians game
According to AccuWeather, gametime temperatures will be in the low-to-mid 60s with partly sunny skies in downtown Cleveland. Rain is in the forecast, but not until around 6 p.m. ET.
Guardians lineup
Why did Tigers-Guardians move game time?
The Guardians announced Friday, in conjunction with Major League Baseball, that first pitch for Game 5 at Progressive Field in Cleveland has been moved up to 1:08 p.m. ET due to impending inclement weather expected in the area by Saturday evening. The forecast for Cleveland calls for showers beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday and continuing into Sunday, according to The Weather Channel. The elimination game was originally slated to begin at 8:08 p.m. ET. — Mark Giannotto
Tigers 2024 season
After a loss on Aug. 10, Detroit fell to eight games below .500 at 55-63. In their final 44 games they went 31-13 to finish the regular season with an 86-76 record and earn the third and final wild card and the No. 6 seed in the American League. The Tigers beat the AL West champion Houston Astros in two games in the wild-card round.
Guardians 2024 season
Cleveland went 92-69 to win the AL Central for the second time in three years. By virtue of having the second-best record in the league, the Guardians got a bye into the division series.
Tigers manager
A.J. Hinch is in his fourth season as the Tigers manager. This is his first appearance in the playoffs with Detroit, but Hinch is no stranger to the postseason. He led the Houston Astros to the World Series twice in five seasons, winning the whole thing in 2017 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hinch was suspended for one year following the 2019 season for his failure to take action in a sign-stealing scandal. On the same day of his suspension, Hinch was fired by Astros owner Jim Crane.
Guardians manager
Cleveland is in its first season under Stephen Vogt, who was still a player as recently as 2022. Vogt replaced Terry Francona, who is the Guardians’ all-time winningest manager and led the team to six playoff appearances in his 11 seasons at the helm.
Tigers World Series championships
- 1935: Beat Chicago Cubs, 4-2
- 1945: Beat Chicago Cubs, 4-3
- 1968: Beat St. Louis Cardinals, 4-3
- 1984: Beat San Diego Padres, 4-1
Guardians World Series championships
- 1920: Beat Brooklyn Robins, 5-2
- 1948: Beat Boston Braves, 4-2
Longest active World Series drought
To find the last Cleveland World Series win, you have to go back 75 seasons, all the way to 1948. Not long after World War II came to a close, Cleveland knocked off the Boston Braves in six games and claimed a second World Series 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)