Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Guardians MLB Wild Card Series Preview and Prediction
It will be a showdown between American League Central rivals when the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians tangle in a Wild Card Series to begin the Major League Baseball playoffs on Tuesday.
Based on what happened in the regular season, this is an absolute must-watch matchup. The way in which the AL Central played out was simply hard to believe, as Cleveland came back from 15.5 games behind Detroit to steal the title.
Will the Tigers take another hit following their epic regular-season collapse with an immediate exit from the playoffs, or will they redeem themselves immediately by eliminating the team that just inflicted heartbreak on them? In no more than three games this week, we will have the answer.
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Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Guardians MLB Wild Card Series Odds and Betting Trends
This series is priced exactly even – there is no favourite and no underdog. It makes sense considering Detroit and Cleveland were separated by just one game in the standings on the heels of a 162-game marathon (the Tigers went 87-75, the Guardians 88-74).
Obviously, the Guardians played far superior baseball down the stretch to erase the entirety of their massive deficit. They have all of the momentum. However, the Tigers have an ace up their sleeve with the best pitcher in baseball – Tarik Skubal. Something’s gotta give in a matchup that looks all even.
Detroit Tigers
Not only were the Tigers up by 15.5 games at one stage, but they also led the Guardians by 11 games as recently as September 5. That’s right; they squandered an 11-game lead in a little more than three weeks. Detroit went on a recent eight-game losing streak and dropped 13 of its last 16 contests to end the regular season.
The culprit was a complete power outage on offence. The Tigers scored three runs or fewer in 12 of their last 16 games. Riley Greene hit .195 in September, Wenceel Perez batted .198, and Javier Baez was not much better at .209. Meanwhile, utility man Colt Keith has not played since September 18 due to a back injury.
Cleveland Guardians
Detroit’s meltdown coincided with an incredible run by Cleveland. Under .500 as recently as September 6, the Guardians went 19-4 the rest of the way – a stretch that featured a 10-game winning streak. They faced the Tigers a total of six times during the final two weeks of the regular season and crucially won five of those contests. Six different players recorded double-digit RBIs in September, including Jose Ramirez with 17 and Bo Naylor with 16.
The question mark surrounding the Guardians is pitching. Their starting rotation is largely unproven, and closer Emmanuel Clase has not pitched since July.
MLB Prediction: Who Will Win Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Guardians?
In every sport, the playoffs are all about getting hot at the right time. The Tigers still have a chance to do that; they can make amends for their September woes by catching fire in October. However, that is easier said than done. Detroit has been a complete disaster in recent weeks, while Cleveland has been the hottest team in baseball along with the New York Yankees.
Momentum is a very real thing, and the Guardians have all of it. They also have home-field advantage thanks to their AL Central triumph. Look for them to keep the train rolling with a 2-1 series victory.
