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30m ago

Guardians-Tigers Series Opens in Cleveland With AL Central Up for Grabs

After erasing a 15.5-game deficit, a six-game homestand positions Cleveland to capitalize on its season-series edge.

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 18: Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets in action during the game against the San Diego Padres at Citi Field on September 18, 2025 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
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Overview

  • Tarik Skubal starts Game 1 against Gavin Williams; Skubal has yielded one run in 22 innings versus Cleveland this year with 32 strikeouts.
  • Cleveland leads the season series 6-4, so Detroit would need a sweep to flip the head-to-head tiebreaker.
  • The Tigers are 26-37 since July 9 and on a six-game skid, with non-Skubal starters posting a 5.48 ERA after the break; Detroit designated Charlie Morton for assignment and the Braves said he will join them.
  • Cleveland is 16-5 in September behind a six-man rotation and MLB’s best post-All-Star-break ERA, with the bullpen steady as Emmanuel Clase remains on paid leave.
  • In the NL race, the Mets are tied with the Reds for the final wild-card spot but lose the tiebreaker entering a six-game trip, while the Cubs have clinched and are nearing home field for the wild-card series.