Guardians-Tigers ALDS Game 4 FAQ (6 ET, TNT)

Guardians-Tigers ALDS Game 4 FAQ (6 ET, TNT)

4:10 AM UTC

DETROIT -- The Tigers are on the cusp of the upset of the Major League Baseball season, one win away from advancing in the American League Division Series following Wednesday’s 3-0 victory over the Guardians in Game 3 at Comerica Park. Cleveland, meanwhile, faces elimination after being shut out for the second straight game and now must win Game 4 in a hostile environment then Game 5 back home, with Detroit’s Tarik Skubal looming.

Entering the 2024 Division Series, best-of-five postseason series that have been tied 1-1 have seen the team winning Game 3 go on to take the series 45 of 62 times (73%). Under the current 2-2-1 format, teams leading 2-1 and playing Game 4 at home had taken the series 25 of 31 times (81%). Of those 25 series victories, 18 came at home in Game 4.

“We're all human, so we can hear the noise. We know how close we are,” Spencer Torkelson said. “But it just goes back to one pitch at a time, one out at a time. That's been our approach since Day 1 of Spring Training, just finding ways to win every single day, and things started to click a couple weeks ago, month ago, whatever it was. So that's what's worked. So if it's not broken, don't fix it.”

Neither team will have much time to regroup, as Game 4 is on tap for Thursday at 6:08 p.m. ET, marking the first time this series hasn’t featured an off-day between contests. It figures to feature another raucous crowd, especially after the Tigers drew a ticketed 44,885 on Wednesday, the largest for a postseason game in Comerica Park history.

The Guardians will turn to second-year starter , who threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings in a 7-0 win in Game 1, while the Tigers -- who’ve been operating with a bevy of bullpen games -- have yet to name a starter.

“Obviously, [Bibee’s] been our guy all year,” Guardians designated hitter David Fry said. “We just got to keep doing what we’re doing. Show up. We’ve done it all year. Get ready to win tomorrow.”

When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 4 is set to begin Thursday at 6:08 p.m. ET, with the broadcast airing on TNT 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?

Guardians: RHP
It worked once and the Guardians are hoping it works again. Bibee was excellent in 5 2/3 innings for the Guardians in their 7-0 victory over the Tigers on Saturday. Now, they’ll need him to repeat the performance to assure that they won’t be eliminated on Thursday. But Bibee has risen to the occasion all season long. When the Guardians lost their ace, Shane Bieber, in the first week of the season, Bibee emerged over the summer to fill his role. He ended the season with a 3.47 ERA in 31 starts.

Tigers: TBD
If you liked “pitching chaos” in Game 3, get ready for a second helping. , who threw five strong innings of bulk relief in Game 1 despite a Lane Thomas home run on his first pitch, is available on four days’ rest and likely to see multiple innings, either as a starter or bulk reliever.

What are the starting lineups?

Guardians: The Guardians will wait to see who the Tigers name as the Game 4 opener before they officially determine who will play where. This team is always lined up to beat the starter and Stephen Vogt will be aggressive in turning to his bench once Detroit taps into its bullpen. Let’s assume the Tigers go to Olson. Here’s one version of how the lineup could look.

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

Tigers: The lefty-loaded lineup A.J. Hinch threw at Bibee in Game 1 produced traffic in four of his five innings but no runs. Expect them to stick with that unless Hinch throws in switch-hitting Wenceel Pérez.

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

How will the bullpens line up after the starter?

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 , , and with a lead is the best recipe for success for Cleveland. Smith only had to face one batter in Game 3 and Herrin worked two-thirds of an inning. But both will be available in the win-or-go-home matchup on Thursday.

Tigers: likely isn’t available after throwing two innings in Game 3, and Brant Hurter will definitely be off after throwing 3 1/3 frames. After that, it’s all hands on deck. , who hasn’t pitched in this series, is a potential wild card to give the Guardians a different look, as could .

Any injuries of note?

Guardians: 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.

Tigers: Javier Báez is out for the season following right hip surgery in August.

Who's hot?

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 recorded one out in Cleveland’s loss on Wednesday. But with the season on the line, expect the Guardians’ trusty righty to be used early and as much as needed.

Tigers: Meadows has hit safely in each of Detroit’s five games this postseason. He’s the first Tiger to hit in five straight postseason games to begin his career since Al Kaline in 1968. … Including postseason, Zach McKinstry is 5-for-15 for his career off Bibee, including a double in Game 1. … Jake Rogers is 5-for-15 with three walks this postseason, reaching base safely in eight of 18 plate appearances.