The Detroit Tigers eliminated the Cleveland Guardians and advanced to the American League Division Series.

In the early hours today, the Detroit Tigers showed impressive teamwork, with 8 players getting hits and all reaching base safely. The bullpen allowed no earned runs. They scored 4 runs in one go during the top of the seventh inning by sending 10 batters to the plate, never trailing during the game. They beat the Cleveland Guardians 6-3 away from home, winning the Wild Card series 2-1, and advanced to the American League Division Series for the second year in a row. Their next challenger will be the Seattle Mariners.

The Tigers recorded 10 hits distributed among 8 hitters; only the seventh batter, Zach McKinstry, did not get a hit but earned a walk. Batters two through six all contributed RBIs. Starting pitcher Jack Flaherty, who won the World Series last year with the Los Angeles Dodgers, pitched 4.2 innings, allowing 3 hits and 1 run. Among the four relievers who followed, only Tommy Kahnle gave up 2 runs, but these were unearned due to an error by reliever Will Vest.

In the top of the third inning, with one out, Parker Meadows and Gleyber Torres hit consecutive singles, and Kerry Carpenter timely delivered a double, putting the Tigers ahead first. In the bottom of the fourth, the Guardians responded with their own rally as leadoff hitter George Valera hit a double, followed by a Jose Ramirez single that tied the game.

In the top of the sixth inning, Dillon Dingler, the Tigers' 27-year-old catcher leading the team in WAR this season, connected on a changeup over the middle of the plate and hit his first career postseason home run, giving the team the lead again and driving in the winning run.

The Tigers truly secured their victory with a 4-run insurance rally in the top of the seventh. Leadoff batter Javier Báez hit a double off rookie pitcher Erik Sabrowski, followed by a bunt single from Meadows. The Guardians brought in right-hander Hunter Gaddis and intentionally walked Kerry Carpenter, who had reached base in all three previous at-bats and already had RBIs, creating a bases-loaded force-out situation.

Unexpectedly, Wenceel Pérez, Spencer Torkelson, and Riley Greene hit three consecutive singles, collectively driving in 4 runs. The Guardians then replaced the pitcher with Matt Festa, who walked Dingler to reload the bases but managed to escape further damage by recording consecutive outs.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Guardians launched a comeback attempt. After one out, Brayan Rocchio singled and Steven Kwan doubled. The Tigers replaced Tommy Kahnle, who had just entered, with closer Will Vest. Vest struck out George Valera, who had earlier doubled, but an error on Vest allowed all the runners to score. Fortunately, Jose Ramirez was tagged out trying to steal second base, ending the inning. In the ninth, Vest regained control, inducing three groundouts to close the game, and the young Tigers team advanced once again to the ALDS.

Last year, the Tigers also entered the playoffs as the third-place American League Wild Card, advancing through the Wild Card series but losing a full five-game Division Series 2-3 to their division rivals, the Guardians. This year, they finally avenged that loss in the Wild Card series. The Tigers will now head to Seattle to face the AL West leaders, the Mariners. All six matchups between these teams this season happened in the first half, with the Tigers holding a 2-4 record, including being swept in three home games but winning two of three on the road early in the season.