Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal (29) is congratulated by outfielder Javier Báez (28) before being relieved against the Cleveland Guardians in the eighth inning during game one of the wild-card round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Progressive Field. David Dermer-Imagn Images

Tigers finish off September to forget in best way possible

By Kevin Henry | Last updated Sep 30, 2025 4:16 PM ET

For the Detroit Tigers, it has been a September to forget. However, on the last day of the month, these Tigers may have just found the momentum they need to make October a month to remember.

Detroit used a masterful performance from starter Tarik Skubal to lay the foundation and a gutsy inning from reliever Will Vest to nail down a 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians and take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three wild-card series.

Game 2 is set for Wednesday afternoon in Cleveland, with first pitch slated for 1 p.m. ET. Should the Tigers win that game as well, they will advance to play the second-seeded Seattle Mariners in the American League Division Series.

Detroit Tigers' Tarik Skubal has historic outing against Cleveland Guardians

On Tuesday, Skubal went 7.2 innings and struck out 14 while allowing just one run and three hits. There was plenty that went into Cleveland's only run of the game, but Skubal quickly settled down and showed why he is once again the front-runner to win the AL Cy Young Award.

The 14 strikeouts were a career-high for Skubal and tied the franchise record for the most whiffs in postseason history.

CAREER-HIGH 14 STRIKEOUTS FOR TARIK SKUBAL. pic.twitter.com/oxbkVyOrOd
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) September 30, 2025

Still, despite Skubal's heroics, it appeared that the Guardians might just have one more comeback left in them after a month where they came from 10.5 games back to overcome the Tigers for the AL Central crown.

With Detroit holding a 2-1 edge and Vest pitching, Jose Ramirez opened the ninth with a single and then advanced to third on a throwing error by Javier Baez. However, Vest struck out George Valera and then induced Kyle Manzardo into a grounder back to the mound. Vest fielded it and was able to catch Ramirez in a rundown between third and home, tagging him out and putting an end to the Cleveland threat.

What the Tigers did on Tuesday in pivotal moments could well be enough to erase what has been a very painful month in the Motor City. Dominant pitching and timely hitting were enough in Game 1 to give Detroit the edge, as well as plenty of momentum heading into a Wednesday when the Tigers have the chance to bury their demons and move on in the postseason.

A new month dawns on Wednesday, and it could be the start of a redemption tour for a Tigers team that seemed to be anything but dangerous in September.

Kevin Henry

A member of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA), Kevin Henry has been covering MLB and MiLB for nearly two decades. Those assignments have included All-Star Games and the MLB postseason, including the World Series. Based in the Denver area, Kevin calls Coors Field his home base, but travels throughout North America during the season to discover the best stories possible

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