The Detroit Tigers dropped their final regular-season game, a 4-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox, sealing their postseason fate as the No. 6 seed in the American League. That defeat not only cost them any hope of still grabbing the division, but confirmed that they would now face a familiar foe: the Cleveland Guardians in the Wild Card Series.
For Detroit, the result was the culmination of a brutal finish. Once holding a double-digit lead in the AL Central, they faltered through September, losing ground to a surging Cleveland squad. Now, their postseason path leads right into the heart of the team that passed them in the standings.
“Obviously, we wanted to win today to get the division,” catcher Dillon Dingler said, “but at the end of the day, we are playing in the postseason. We just have to look forward now.”
A Familiar Foe Awaits
Now, instead of celebrating a division crown and hosting a playoff series, the Tigers must go on the road to face the Guardians in Cleveland. The Wild Card Series will be a best-of-three, with all games played at Progressive Field. The two teams have seen plenty of each other already this season, and their battles down the stretch created a playoff-like atmosphere long before October arrived.
“Obviously, we know what kind of team they have,” Dingler said. “We’ve played them six times in the past two weeks. We’re going to have a good game plan going in. The biggest thing is it’s a clean slate now, so we’re not going to worry about anything that’s happened. We’re going to move forward and we’re going to have a lot of fun. …
“I think we’re just going to go and do what we’ve been doing the entire season. I don’t think we’re going to look into it all that much. We obviously always lean on our pitchers’ strengths more than anything, but we’ll have a good game plan.”
Skubal Scheduled to Headline
Perhaps the biggest storyline entering this series is Detroit’s decision to hand the ball to ace Tarik Skubal for Game 1. The Tigers confirmed that Skubal, having endured the ups and downs of September, will be their opening starter–an alignment that reflects both confidence and strategy.
“All that matters is whenever we get to Game 1,” Skubal said. “Executing that game is all that matters. Game 1, Game 2, get to the next round–that’s really all that matters.”
Skubal’s regular-season numbers back the decision. He posted a 2.21 ERA, a mark not seen by a qualifying Tigers pitcher since Denny McLain in 1968. His workload and form suggest Detroit believes their postseason path begins with serving up their best arm first.
The Guardians arrive not just as a team in form, but as one riding the wave of a remarkable comeback. For Detroit, the challenge is as much psychological as it is tactical. They will have to shed the weight of their late-season collapse if they hope to extend their season.
“This is why you play the game,” Skubal said. “This is what you prepare for. This is why you do all the stuff in the offseason that you do. This is why you spend the last seven months taking care of yourself daily. It’s literally why I prepare the way I do.”
Detroit’s Collapse in Context
The sting of this collapse is magnified by the way it unfolded. Detroit looked destined to end the regular season comfortably on top, but the wheels came off when it mattered most. Cleveland kept winning, clawing back ground week by week, while the Tigers couldn’t stop the bleeding.
No team in MLB history had ever surrendered such a commanding division lead so late in the season. Detroit now carries that unwanted distinction, a fact that adds a layer of urgency and embarrassment heading into the postseason.
In 2024, the Guardians knocked the Tigers out in a tense five-game Division Series.
Detroit knows they can’t afford a slow start. With Skubal on the mound to open, they’re signaling intent and hoping he can quiet the crowd, set a tone, and give them a foothold.
The Challenge Ahead
For Detroit to move forward, they will need to find a way to put aside the ghosts of September. Their pitching staff will be under immense scrutiny, as one poor outing in a short series can erase months of work. Equally important will be their ability to handle the Guardians’ lineup, which has thrived in high-leverage situations throughout the final month.
The Tigers’ hitters must also rise to the occasion. Their offense showed flashes of brilliance earlier in the season but sputtered during the collapse. Facing Cleveland’s rotation and bullpen in front of a hostile crowd will require not only patience at the plate but also the kind of opportunistic hitting that can swing close games.
The Wild Card Series Schedule
According to MLB’s official broadcast schedule:
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Game 1: Tuesday, September 30 – 1:08 p.m. ET at Progressive Field (ESPN)
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Game 2: Wednesday, October 1 – 1:08 p.m. ET at Progressive Field (ESPN)
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Game 3 (if necessary): Thursday, October 2 – 1:08 p.m. ET at Progressive Field (ESPN)
Tigers Drop Finale, Set to Face Guardians in Wild Card Showdown