Guardians-Tigers ALDS Game 3 FAQ (Wed., 3 ET, TBS)

Guardians-Tigers ALDS Game 3 FAQ (Wed., 3 ET, TBS)

2:33 AM UTC

CLEVELAND -- For the first time in the past decade, playoff baseball is returning to Comerica Park, and the Tigers have the momentum on their side.

Tarik Skubal did Tarik Skubal things in Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Monday, allowing Kerry Carpenter to be the hero in the ninth inning with a three-run homer off of the best closer in the American League, Emmanuel Clase. Is there a better way for the Tigers to return to their home park to play in front of fans who have waited since 2014 for October baseball?

“It’s what you want, playoff atmosphere,” Tigers catcher Jake Rogers said. “You want that competitiveness, man. It’s a good atmosphere to play in.”

Detroit made sure it didn’t fall in a 2-0 hole in the series. And now that it’s tied, 1-1, history has shown that the Tigers may benefit in the long run from the Game 2 win. When a Division Series under the current 2-2-1 format has been tied after two games, the team heading home for Games 3-4 has gone on to win the series 29 of 44 times (66%).

“You get that emotional win and go back home 1-1,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said, “and you feel like you got one on their home turf.”

Said Matt Vierling: “Personally, coming out of here 1-1 is huge. To come out of here with a win is absolutely awesome for us. It's a lot of confidence.”

The Guardians knew they needed to win Game 2 to increase their odds of not seeing Skubal again. But they knew it would be a tough task and are reverting back to their day-to-day mentality to focus on winning Game 3.

“Go get on a flight and get ready for the next one,” Guardians Game 2 starter Matthew Boyd said with a smile. “That’s kind of been our moxie all year. No matter what happens in the game or how the end result goes, just keep doing what we do. We’re excited to do that. It’s gonna be fun.”

The only way for the Guardians to close this out without another meeting with Skubal will be to win Games 3 and 4 … both in Detroit. But with the anticipation building in this city during a long drought of playoff baseball, the Tigers know they will definitely have a home-field advantage.

“We know it's going to be electric,” Hinch said. “We know Detroit has waited a really long time for a playoff game. We're going to have a couple of them and a chance to take control of this series.”

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When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 3 is set to begin Wednesday at 3:08 p.m. ET, with the broadcast airing on TBS, TruTV and Max. All games are available in the U.S. on MLB.TV (authentication to a participating Pay TV provider is required). Live games are also available in select countries outside the U.S. For full details, click here.

Who are the starting pitchers?
Tigers: TBD
Skubal won’t be in line to start again unless the series goes to a winner-take-all Game 5 on Saturday. So the Tigers are back to the pitching chaos portion of their staff, with an opener likely setting things up for a bulk pitcher. Tyler Holton could be in line to open for the second time this series, but with fellow left-hander Brant Hurter potentially in line for bulk innings, Hinch could turn to a right-hander -- such as Game 2 closer Beau Brieske, Will Vest or Brenan Hanifee -- to force some tougher lineup choices for Guardians manager Stephen Vogt.

Guardians: RHP
Cobb’s fourth start of the 2024 season will come in Game 3 of the ALDS. Yes, you read that correctly. It’s been a disastrous year for the righty, who has suffered one injury after the next. He was recovering from hip surgery this winter and then dealt with a nerve issue in his right shoulder. He was just about to return from the IL when a blister set him back. Then he was traded from the Giants to the Guardians and had to get reacclimated in a new environment. Add in a split fingernail and another blister and Cobb was limited to just three starts on the year with his new team. But in those few innings, he showed dominance, especially when he carried a perfect game through six innings on Sept. 1. He hasn’t pitched in a game since then, but the Guardians are confident he’s ready for the challenge.

What are the starting lineups?
Tigers: Cobb on the mound means Carpenter returns to the starting lineup after coming off the bench for Game 2. It also means a return to the leadoff spot for Meadows, while Zach McKinstry steps in at third base.

1. , CF
2. , DH
3. , RF
4. , LF
5. , 2B
6. , 1B
7. , 3B
8. , SS
9. , C

Guardians: The Guardians will wait to see who the Tigers name as the Game 3 opener before they officially determine who will play where. This team is always lined up to beat the starter and Vogt will be aggressive in turning to his bench once Detroit taps into its bullpen. Let’s assume the Tigers go back to lefty Tyler Holton to open. Here’s how the lineup could look.

1. , LF
2. , DH
3. José Ramírez, 3B
4. , CF
5. , 1B
6. Andrés Giménez, 2B
7. , RF
8. , C
9. , SS

How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Tigers: With Reese Olson, Keider Montero and Ty Madden having pitched in Game 1, Hurter seems like the logical choice for bulk innings. Tuesday’s off-day means Hinch should have his full bullpen at his disposal for the later innings -- except, of course, for whoever opens.

Guardians: The Guardians will want to stick to the same plan as Games 1 and 2. It worked the first time. It came up just short the second go around. But getting the ball to Cade Smith, Tim Herrin, Hunter Gaddis and Emmanuel Clase is the best recipe for success for Cleveland. And with another day off between Games 2 and 3, all four will be rested and ready to go at Comerica Park.

Any injuries of note?
Tigers: Javier Báez is out for the season following right hip surgery in August.

Guardians: Now that Cobb was cleared to join the roster, the Guardians are all healthy. Utility man Tyler Freeman strained his left oblique during the team’s workout on the off-day on Sunday and was replaced on the roster by Angel Martínez prior to Game 2.

Who’s hot?
Tigers: Meadows has hit safely in each of Detroit’s four games this postseason. He’s the first Tiger to hit in four straight postseason games to begin his career since Don Kelly in 2011. … Vierling reached base four times in Game 2 (single, double, two walks), becoming the first Tiger to do that in a postseason since Austin Jackson singled twice and walked twice in Game 4 of the 2013 ALCS vs. Boston. … Justyn-Henry Malloy is 4-for-6 this postseason, including two singles in Game 2.

Guardians: Cade Smith has been flawless for the Guardians. He’s now the fifth pitcher to face at least four batters and allow zero baserunners in each of his first two career postseason appearances, joining Jake Diekman (2015), Carlos Villanueva (2008), Rafael Pérez (2007) and Bruce Sutter. Smith and Pérez are the only two rookies on the list (and both for Cleveland). Smith has been the first man to get the ball out of the ‘pen this series and you can expect that to be the case in Game 3.

Did you know?
At 26 years, 169 days, the Tigers finished the season as MLB’s youngest team, and the Guardians were the third youngest (27 years, 26 days). According to Elias, this ALDS marks the first postseason series between two of the five youngest teams in MLB that season.