In the 2025 regular, non pre nor post, MLB season for a majority of the year the Tigers were on top. This was not only in the division but also in all of the MLB. In mid July the Tigers were ahead of the trailing teams, in the AL central, by a minimum of 14 games. Throughout the month of September the Tigers worried us. In the final game of the year we lost the division lead to the Cleveland Guardians – and that meant we had to face them in the Wild Card series (the first round of playoffs in the MLB).
Game one:
With Our Ace, Tarik Skubal, on the mound pitching for the team at Progressive Field. The Tigers who have been hard to watch since September first, being seen as the underdogs (having just been beaten by Cleveland in a regular season series) , were the first to score in the top of the first – Spencer Torkelson singles to bring home Kerry Carpenter. Followed in the bottom of the fourth, by Cleveland’s shortstop Gabriel Arias, a single brought Angel Martínez (Guardians CF) into home. With the current score being 1-1 going into the seventh Riley Greene, Detroit’s star outfielder, doubles into right field. Wenceel Pérez reaches on an error by Guardians first baseman Jhonkensy Noel – Riley Greene to third. Dillon Dingler strikes out, one down and two on in the seventh. Zach McKinstry sacrifice bunts to bring Riley Greene home, which would eventually be the winning run in this game.
Game Final: 2 – 1, Tigers
Tigers Record: 1 – 0
Game two:
This game started a little differently, and also ended. Beginning with George Valera (Guardians RF) homering in the first to make the score 1 – 0 Guardians. In the top of the fourth, The Guardians challenged a play – which got overturned. Javier Báez singles to center field. Off this Riley Greene Scored – and Zach McKinstry was called out to end the inning. Current score: 1 – 1. It was not until the top of the eighth where Bryan Rocchio hit a home run to make the game 2 – 1 Guardians, this is where this game went downhill. Directly after this homer, Steven Kwan doubled. Followed by another double by Daniel Schneemann. Then the Tigers intentionally walked José Ramírez. Followed by one out, Bo Naylor then hit a home run. That would end the scoring for both teams.
Game Final: 6 – 1, Guardians
Tigers Record: 1 – 1
Game three:
With our season on the line in game three – it started in the top of the third. Parker Meadows and Gleyber Torres hit back to back singles with one out. Man on first and man on third. Kerry Carpenter doubles to put Detroit on the board – Meadows scores making it 1 – 0 Tigers. In the bottom of the fourth the Guardians tied it up. George Valera doubled, followed by a José Ramírez single to bring him home. Back to the Tigers, Dillon Dingler hits a home run to put the Tigers on top in the sixth. Starting another rally in the seventh, Javier Baéz doubled. Following (in order): Parker Meadows single, Gleyber Torres ground out (Meadows to second, Baéz to third), Kerry Carpenter intentional walk, Wenceel Pérez single (Baéz and Meadows score), Spencer Torkelson single (Carpenter scores), Riley Greene single (Wenceel Pérez scores). Then Dillon Dingler walked, but that got nowhere with Zach McKinstry striking out looking and Javier Baéz popping out to second base. With the score after this inning being 6 – 1 Tigers, the Guardians had their own small rally in the 8th. Brayan Rocchio singled, and Steven Kwan doubled. Then on an error both men scored making the score be 6 – 3 Tigers, which is how the game would end.
Game final: 6 – 3, Tigers
Tigers Record: 2-1
The Detroit Tigers beat the Cleveland Guardians to move onto the next stage of the playoffs, the ALDS.
