The 2024 MLB ALDS between the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers is a series we didn’t see happening and nothing like this has happened before.
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Both teams come from the AL Central and have had their share of ups and downs this season. The Guardians bring one of the best bullpens in baseball, while the Tigers are the hottest team (and the youngest) heading into the playoffs, riding a wave of momentum.
Here's everything you need to know about this exciting matchup.
Before we get started breaking down the analysis and the predictions, here are the times you can catch the games.
Game 1: Tigers at Guardians, Saturday, Oct. 5, 1:08 p.m. ET, TBS/Max
Game 2: Tigers at Guardians, Monday, Oct. 7, 4:08 p.m. ET, TBS/truTV/Max
Game 3: Guardians at Tigers, Wednesday, Oct. 9, Time TBD, TBS/truTV/Max
Game 4: Guardians at Tigers, Thursday, Oct. 10, Time TBD, TBS/truTV/Max (if necessary)
Game 5: Tigers at Guardians, Saturday, Oct. 12, Time TBD, TBS/Max (if necessary)
The best-of-five series will kick off in Cleveland before moving to Detroit for Games 3 and 4 (if needed). The deciding Game 5 will be back in Cleveland if it goes the distance. Each game will be absolutely explosive.
Like you, we’re betting on the games. Here’s where the odds are currently sitting for the Guardians and Tigers to win the series.
Cleveland Guardians: -125
Detroit Tigers: +105
The oddsmakers are leaning slightly toward the Guardians, likely because of their dominant bullpen and home-field advantage. However, with the Tigers playing their best baseball of the season, the series feels much closer than what the oddsmakers think it is.
With so many options to take into consideration, it’s clear that this series has the potential for some real offensive fireworks or a low-scoring, tightly contested affair depending on how pitching matchups shake out.
Speaking of pitching matchups, here’s how each team looks on the mound.
Tanner Bibee leads the way for Cleveland. His elite slider and solid fastball make him a tough pitcher to face.
However, after Bibee, there are some question marks we just cannot overlook.
Gavin Williams has shown flashes of brilliance here and there, but he’s had inconsistent outings. He’s got a 3-10 record with a 4.86 ERA. Matthew Boyd has strikeout potential but struggles to go deep into games sitting right around 4 or 5 IP per game.
The Guardians may also rely on Ben Lively, who has had a surprising year but lacks overpowering stuff. Remember, they’ll be pitching against a gritty team that looks to pile it on with a few bad pitches.
The Tigers' ace, Tarik Skubal, is their biggest weapon as he’s the AL Triple Crown winner and the likely Cy Young winner. Though he likely won't pitch until Game 2, Skubal has been outstanding, particularly down the stretch, and could appear again in Game 5 if needed.
Behind Skubal, Casey Mize brings a solid four-seam and splitter combo, while Reese Olson and Keider Montero will need to step up. They haven’t been nearly as hot as the other two.
While not as dominant as Cleveland’s top starter, the Tigers' rotation can be effective if they get early run support.
Cleveland’s bullpen is undoubtedly the best in this matchup.
Emmanuel Clase, Cade Smith, and Erik Sabrowski form a three-headed monster that can shut down late-game rallies.
The Guardians rely on their bullpen more than most teams, which could be an advantage in a series with tight games. The Tigers will need to get their runs in early in this series.
Detroit’s bullpen has been good but not at Cleveland’s level.
Will Vest, Tyler Holton, and Jason Foley have been key contributors, but they don’t have the same overpowering stuff that Cleveland’s relievers bring. One of the more interesting aspects of the Tigers is that they pitch more bullpen days than any other team in baseball. So, we’ll see where this goes.
That’s how the mound looks for both sides, but here’s a look at how each team looks overall.
The biggest advantage for the Guardians is their ability to shorten games with their elite bullpen.
Manager Stephen Vogt can hand the ball to Clase, Smith, and Sabrowski in the 6th inning if needed, and feel confident that the game is in good hands. Cleveland’s bullpen has consistently been the best in baseball this year, posting an ERA that is half a run better than any other team at 2.57.
On top of that, Cleveland has been the more consistent team over the course of the season, and they know how to win tight games. They were at the top of the AL Central almost the entire year and are comfortable in high-pressure situations.
Detroit enters the ALDS as arguably the hottest team in baseball. As of August 10th, they had a 0.2% chance of making the playoffs and here we are in the ALDS.
After a shaky start to the season, the Tigers have turned it around and are firing on all cylinders. They just took down a Houston Astros team that was heavily favored and packed with talent.
While Cleveland has the better bullpen, the Tigers may have an advantage in starting pitching. Skubal is a legitimate ace who can change the momentum of the series. He can go deep and keep runners off the bases. If Casey Mize can find his best, the Tigers will be difficult to beat. That’s an easy 2 of the 3 wins right there.
The Tigers have consistently pulled off dramatic comebacks in the latter half of the season. This “never say die” attitude is what helped them get past Houston, and it could serve them well against Cleveland and their dominant bullpen.
After Bibee, Cleveland’s starting pitchers have been somewhat shaky.
Gavin Williams has great potential, but he’s prone to blowups. Matthew Boyd and Ben Lively can eat innings, but neither has been consistently reliable. If Detroit can get to the Guardians’ starters early, it may force Cleveland to turn to their bullpen too soon. While that’s good for the Guardians, they still need to keep them as fresh as possible for a potential 5 game series.
Detroit’s offense lacks power, and while they've done enough to win games lately, they may find it harder to generate runs against Cleveland’s pitching.
They rely heavily on situational hitting and small ball to scrape out runs. Sure, it’s a lot of fun to watch from a fan’s perspective, but this is one of the biggest challenges of the year for them. This could be a problem if the Guardians’ bullpen slams the door in late-game situations.
There is no doubt that this series is going to be a battle.
Both teams have their strengths, but the Tigers' momentum gives them a slight edge. They’re absolutely unpredictable and they treat every pitch like it’s the last of the season.
Cleveland’s bullpen is elite, but they may have to use it too much if their starters falter. The Tigers, on the other hand, have Skubal to turn to in key games, and their resilient lineup has found ways to win when it matters most.
In the end, we think this series will go the full five games, with Detroit pulling off the upset in Game 5, advancing to the ALCS.
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