Detroit and Cleveland kick off their Wild Card Series today, with Tarik Skubal taking the mound for the Tigers in Game 1. Skubal enters the postseason riding arguably the best season by a Tigers starter in decades, his 2.21 ERA is the lowest by a qualifying Detroit pitcher since Denny McLain’s 1.96 in 1968.
Opposing him will be Gavin Williams, Cleveland's breakout right-hander who delivered a 3.06 ERA with 173 strikeouts across 31 starts this season. Williams put up impressive strikeout numbers in the minors and it appears this season he has put together. Cleveland’s choice to start Williams in Game 1 reflects their confidence in his growth. The 25-year-old has shown poise and command, relying on a mid-90s fastball and sharp slider to neutralize hitters.
The Skubal Factor
Skubal has been outstanding against Cleveland in 2025. In four starts, he has logged 28 innings with a 0.64 ERA, 40 strikeouts, and just five walks, allowing only one home run. He blanked the Guardians with a two-hit, 13-strikeout complete game on May 25 and followed that with seven scoreless innings and 10 strikeouts on July 6.
Cleveland finally pushed across runs in September, including an outing on Sept. 23 when Skubal was undone by an odd sixth inning that featured an infield hit, a wild pitch, and a balk, small miscues that opened the door for a Guardians win. Outside of that frame, Skubal has controlled the matchup and remains Detroit’s biggest weapon heading into this series.
Injury Watch: Lane Thomas, Colt Keith
Both teams are missing key regulars. Cleveland lost Lane Thomas to foot surgery earlier this month, removing an important bat and outfield presence.
Detroit is without Colt Keith, sidelined by rib cage inflammation. Keith was one of the Tigers’ most productive bats this season and a steady infield presence.
Momentum Swing
Cleveland surged into October with a 20–7 September, erasing Detroit’s division lead and carrying a wave of momentum. Detroit, meanwhile, stumbled to the finish line, losing 17 of its final 24. However, that does not mean a thing to Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, which he is correct. Everyone today starts 0-0.
That contrast defines the backdrop of this series. Cleveland looks like the team on the rise, while Detroit must rely on Skubal’s brilliance and opportunistic hitting to reverse its fortunes on a clean slate.
Key Storylines
The Game 1 duel. Skubal’s dominance vs. Cleveland meets Williams’ new role as the go- to starter.
Bullpen chess. A short series amplifies every relief decision. Both managers have a ton of respect for each other but Cleveland's bullpen has been one of the best in the AL. They have posted an ERA of 2.84 since July 30, when they lost Emmanuel Clase to suspension. In other words, they have not skipped a beat.
Replacing lost bats. Depth players will be called upon without Thomas and Keith.
Momentum vs reset. Cleveland rides hot form; Detroit looks for a hard reset behind its ace.
Outlook
Cleveland’s late-season surge and home-field edge make them slight favorites, but Detroit counters with one of baseball’s most dominant pitchers in Skubal. If he replicates his season-long mastery of the Guardians, the Tigers could flip momentum in an instant. For the Guardians, Williams’ growth and poise will be critical in keeping their edge intact.
Game 1 is likely to set the tone for the entire Wild Card, and whichever pitcher blinks first may determine who advances.