CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Guardians have their backs against the wall, facing elimination from the 2024 MLB Postseason after dropping Games 2 and 3 of the American League Division Series.
On Thursday evening, the Detroit Tigers will host Game 4 of the ALDS, one day after taking control of the series with a 3-0 victory in Game 3, the first playoff game played in Detroit since 2014.
As the Guardians prepare for the series' second game in the Motor City, the Tigers lead the best-of-five series 2-1. Cleveland must beat Detroit on Thursday to keep its season alive.
What follows is everything you need to know about the Game 4 matchup:
Game info, how to watch on TV, betting line
- Time: 6:08 p.m.
- Location: Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan
- TV channel: TNT
- Streaming: Max
- Radio: WTAM 1100, WMMS 100.7, Guardians Radio Network, ESPN Radio, WARF 1350
- Moneyline: -112 Guardians / +100 Detroit Tigers
- Run line: 1.5
- Total: Over/under 6
Probable pitchers
- Cleveland Guardians: Tanner Bibee (RHP: 12-8, 3.47 ERA, 187 SO)
- Detroit Tigers: TBD
ALDS schedule
- Saturday, Oct. 5: Game 1 in Cleveland, Guardians win 7-0
- Monday, Oct. 7: Game 2 in Cleveland, Tigers win 3-0
- Wednesday, Oct. 9: Game 3, in Detroit, Tigers win 3-0
- Thursday, Oct. 10: Game 4, in Detroit, 6:08 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 12: Game 5 (if necessary) in Cleveland, 4:38 p.m. or 8:08 p.m.
Preview
The Tigers have the series lead and all the momentum after shutting out the Guardians in two straight games. Now, it's do-or-die for Cleveland in Game 4.
For as lauded as the Guardians' league-leading bullpen has been this year, it's Detroit who has gotten the most out of its relievers in the ALDS. Righty Beau Brieske was awarded the win in Wednesday's shutout, registering three strikeouts over two scoreless innings. The Tigers relied on their bullpen for the majority of Game 3; starter Keider Montero was pulled from the game after dispatching all three batters with just six pitches in the first inning.
RELATED: Cleveland Guardians on brink of elimination after 3-0 loss to Detroit Tigers in Game 3 of ALDS
Dating back to the seventh inning of Game 1, Stephen Vogt's club has now gone 20 straight innings without scoring a run. Simply put, the offense needs a spark to return to its Game 1 form, when Cleveland racked up five runs before the Tigers had managed to record an out. And it certainly needs to improve in clutch situations; Cleveland's batters went a dismal 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position in Game 3.
Tanner Bibee will return to the mound for Cleveland to start Game 4. The righty put in a solid shift as the Guardians' starter in their 7-0 Game 1 win over Detroit, striking out six batters and working his way out of trouble a few times over his 4 2/3 scoreless innings in his first career postseason start. The Tigers have yet to name a starter for Thursday.
Should the Guardians win Thursday, another meeting with Detroit's All-Star ace Tarik Skubal awaits Saturday in Game 5. Skubal dominated on the mound in Game 2 and was lights out, recording eight strikeouts in seven pitched innings and only giving up three hits.
The Guardians are on the brink of elimination and need a win to send the series back to Cleveland for a decisive Game 5. Unfortunately for Cleveland, recent history is not on its side. Dating back to Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, the franchise is a wretched 5-23 in postseason elimination games. In games where Cleveland is the team at risk of being eliminated (i.e. "win now or the season is over"), the team is 0-11.
What's next?
The Guardians/Tigers series winner will take on either the New York Yankees or Kansas City Royals in the American League Championship Series. The Yankees lead the series 2-1.
The Associated Press and 3News Digital Producers Anna Meyer and Tyler Carey contributed.
