The NLDS was incredible, with back-to-back win-or-go-home Game 5s on Friday and Saturday. The Tigers and Guardians have been AL Central rivals for years, but this is the first time they’ve met in the playoffs. Now, it’s a one-and-done showdown for a trip to The Bronx on Monday night when Game 1 of the best-of-seven series begins. The winner will either head home with five more chances to win three games or face an early exit.
Below are the five key storylines for Saturday’s Tigers-Guardians ALDS Game 5, which Cleveland moved up a few hours to avoid potential rain.
- Is Skubal going to win this by himself?
The Tigers’ strategy for winning this ALDS was clear: steal one game from Cleveland’s trio of elite pitchers and win both of Skubal’s starts. Two out of three goals have been met. The Tigers won Game 2 with Skubal on the mound, and they took Wednesday’s non-Skubal Game 3.
Now, it’s Game 5. No pitcher has been better than Skubal this season, and he was in top form during Game 2. However, it’s worth noting that the Tigers weren’t leading when he left after seven innings. Kerry Carpenter hit a three-run homer off Mick Abel in the ninth inning—long after Skubal was gone—for a 3-0 win. Skubal can dominate, but the Tigers will need more run support to win.
- Can Boyd deliver again?
The reason the Tigers didn’t have a lead by the time Skubal left Game 2 had everything to do with Boyd, who mentored Skubal when he first came up. In contrast to Skubal’s smooth seven innings, Boyd worked his way through 4 2/3 scoreless, but stressful, innings.
He won’t have as much room to operate as Skubal. Cleveland considered using a bullpen game, but either way, Boyd will be called upon early. If he can give them another 4.2 scoreless innings, it will be a huge advantage for Detroit.
- Have these offenses woken up?
Game 4 was the first non-shutout of the series, after the Guardians won Game 1 and the Tigers blanked Cleveland in Games 2 and 3. When Lane Thomas hit an RBI single in the first inning of Game 4, it felt like a huge sigh of relief for Guardians fans. Cleveland had been held scoreless for 20 innings before breaking through. Five runs might not be a powerhouse performance, but it was a significant eruption.
David Fry’s two-run homer in Game 4 was critical, especially against left-hander Tarik Skubal. Cleveland’s fans will be hoping for more of that, while Detroit’s right-handed bats, like Justyn-Henry Malloy, look to step up in Game 5 with Boyd on the mound.
- Can J-Ram have a superstar moment?
José Ramírez is one of the most elite hitters in baseball, consistently finishing in the top 10 in MVP voting. Despite his impressive resume, he hasn’t had that signature moment in the postseason that cements him as a superstar.
This could be his time. He recently hit a monster home run to win one of Cleveland’s biggest games of the season, and he’ll have a packed home crowd and millions of viewers watching on primetime TV. There’s no better stage for him to make his mark.
- AL Central pride on the line
The AL Central often gets criticized, and for good reason. The division hasn’t seen a team make it to the ALCS since Cleveland beat Toronto in 2016. But that marked the end of a strong run, with at least one AL Central team reaching the ALCS for six consecutive years.
This year, that drought will end. The Guardians have won two of the last three division titles, and their young talent is starting to shine. Meanwhile, the Tigers are excited about their young players breaking through and have one of the league’s top-rated farm systems. Could this series, and especially this game, be the turning point where Detroit takes the AL Central crown from Cleveland in the future?
