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Detroit Tigers first base Spencer Torkelson makes an error on first base against Cleveland Guardians
Detroit Tigers first base Spencer Torkelson (20) makes an error on first base against Cleveland Guardians third base José Ramírez (11) during the ninth inning of Game 1 of AL wild-card series at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio on Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

How to Watch The Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Guardians: Wild Card Series, Game Time, TV and Streaming Info

By Russell Raunam  |  Last updated Oct 1, 2025 11:16 AM ET
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The opening playoff series of the 2025 MLB Wild Card features two AL Central teams as the Detroit Tigers travel to Ohio to take on the Cleveland Guardians. The Tigers dominated all season behind reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and carried that momentum into a game 1 win against the Guardians. 

The Guardians and Tigers finished with the same record, but Cleveland won the division tiebreaker and is hosting this Wild Card Series. This will be an exciting start to the MLB playoffs that you can watch live without cable all October long!

How to watch Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Guardians Game 2 today

  • Matchup: Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Guardians
  • Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
  • Time: 1:08 PM ET
  • TV Channels: ESPN
  • Live Stream Platform: DIRECTV Streaming App; 5-Day Free Trial
  • Location: Cleveland, OH
  • Stadium: Progressive Field

Predictions, odds, and spread for Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Guardians — Game 2

Key Line Detroit Tigers Cleveland Guardians
Run Line +1.5 -1.5
Run Line Odds -207 +168
Moneyline +112 -136
Series Odds -310 +250

Key players you need to watch on the Detroit Tigers

  • Riley Greene – Led the Detroit Tigers in 2025 with 36 home runs, making him the team's top power hitter.
  • Spencer Torkelson – Ranked second on the team with 31 home runs, providing significant offensive production from the first base position.
  • Kerry Carpenter – Finished third in home runs for the Tigers in 2025 with 26, establishing himself as a key contributor in the lineup.

Key players you need to watch on the Cleveland Guardians

  • José Ramírez – As the team's third baseman, José Ramírez led the Guardians with 30 home runs, a .283 batting average, 85 RBIs, and a .863 OPS in 2025, anchoring the lineup.
  • Kyle Manzardo – Playing primarily at designated hitter and first base, Kyle Manzardo had a breakout year with 27 home runs, 70 RBIs, and a .768 OPS over 142 games.
  • Steven Kwan – Serving as the everyday left fielder, Steven Kwan posted a .272 average, collected 170 hits, and contributed 11 home runs while playing 156 games for the Guardians in 2025.

Key stats for the Detroit Tigers

TEAM
 R
 AVG
 OBP
 SLG
 OPS
 HR
 SB
 ERA
 WHIP
 K
 BB
 OBA
 SV
Tigers
 758
 .247
 .316
 .413
 .729
 198
 61
 3.95
 1.25
 1375
 485
 .241
 40

Key stats for the Cleveland Guardians

TEAM
 R
 AVG
 OBP
 SLG
 OPS
 HR
 SB
 ERA
 WHIP
 K
 BB
 OBA
 SV
Guardians
 643
 .226
 .296
 .373
 .669
 168
 129
 3.70
 1.26
 1,381
 527
 .238
 47

Who's winning the Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Guardians series?

The beauty of the MLB's 162-game regular season schedule is that the playoffs are a fraction of that, starting at a best-of-3 series in the opening Wild Card round. This means every pitch is important, making for very special moments. 

The Detroit Tigers are the only road team favored to win their respective series, and that is because the Tigers have an ace in Tarik Skubal, who is nearly un-hittable when he is on his game. I like the Tigers to win game 1 with Skubal pitching, but the Guardians would rally and win the next two games to clinch the series win.

So far, we're looking pretty spot on. Can the Guardians fulfill the prophecy in todays game? Stream the matchup to find out.

Russell is a 22-year-old from Dallas, Texas, who recently graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in Sports Journalism. He can talk about sports all day long and is also passionate about comedy and entertainment.