CLEVELAND — It all comes down to this.
The Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers are set for Game 5 of the American League Division Series (ALDS) on Saturday night. Both teams come into the game vying for a spot in the American League Championship Series (ALCS) against the New York Yankees.
Saturday's winner-take-all ALDS showdown at Progressive Field comes after the Guardians held off elimination with a 5-4 victory over the Tigers in the Motor City on Thursday night.
What follows is everything you need to know about the Game 5 matchup:
GAME INFO, HOW TO WATCH ON TV, STREAM, BETTING LINE
- Time: 8:08 p.m.
- Location: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio
- TV channel: TBS
- Streaming: Max
- Radio: WTAM 1100, WMMS 100.7, Guardians Radio Network, ESPN Radio, WARF 1350
- Moneyline: Tigers -125 / Guardians +105
- Run line: 1.5
- Total: 6
- Tickets can be purchased HERE
PROBABLE PITCHERS
- Detroit Tigers: LHP Tarik Skubal (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 14 SO)
- Cleveland Guardians: 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, Guardians win 5-4
- Saturday, Oct. 12: Game 5, in Cleveland, 8:08 p.m.
PREVIEW
With both teams one win away from advancing to the next round of the MLB Postseason, the ALCS, Saturday's game will be nothing short of a dogfight.
Despite playing at home, the Guardians will have no easy path to victory as AL Cy Young Award favorite Skubal takes the mound again for the Tigers. During the 2024 MLB Postseason, the 27-year-old ace has not given up a run through 13 innings pitched.
On Wednesday, the Guardians seemed lifeless against Skubal in Game 2, as Cleveland only tallied three hits in seven innings of work.
However, this Guardians team proved resilient on Thursday night, ending a streak of 11 losses in postseason elimination games dating back to 1997.
The Guardians will need to get off to a fast start on Saturday. It is crucial their stars hit early and often, as well as more reassurance from the rest of the roster.
So far, the offensive stars of the postseason have been Steven Kwan, David Fry and Lane Thomas. Kwan comes into Saturday's game with a .500 batting average this postseason, tallying eight hits in 16 at-bats.
In addition, Fry has made a name for himself this postseason by stepping up in crucial ways, including his two-out, two-run, pinch-hit homer in the seventh inning of Game 4, which proved to be the decider in the Guards' victory. Finally, right fielder Thomas was the star of the show in Game 1 and had four hits and four RBIs in this postseason.
For the Guardians, first-year manager Stephen Vogt is expected to announce on Friday who will pitch them in the pivotal game.
WHAT'S NEXT?
The Guardians/Tigers series winner will take on the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series.
The best-of-seven ALCS will begin on Monday, with the Yankees hosting Game 1.