Overview

• The best-of-three series starts at Progressive Field today with first pitch at 1:08 p.m. ET on ESPN.
• Sportsbooks broadly favor the Yankees and Dodgers in their matchups, with several books listing Detroit as a slight series favorite over Cleveland.
• The Guardians finished 88-74 after erasing a 15.5-game deficit, including a 5-1 mark against Detroit in late September.
• Detroit turns to reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal in Game 1 opposite Cleveland’s Gavin Williams, highlighting the outsized importance of frontline starters in short series.
• The all-time Guardians–Tigers series was tied 1,166–1,166 (with 12 ties) entering this postseason, and Cleveland has outfield prospect Chase DeLauter on the taxi squad as a potential roster option.