CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Guardians are once again on the brink of elimination against their American League Central rival Detroit Tigers.
“Our backs have been against the wall for three months. What’s one more day? Like I said, the way Tarik Skubal threw the ball tonight, I don’t know if anybody scores off of him,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said following Game 1, a 3-1 Guardians loss. “He was absolutely outstanding. Took a little bit of ‘Guard Ball’ turmoil there just to get one. And really battled. But he was some kind of special today.”
While Vogt is correct about Skubal, the Guardians also did themselves no favors, committing two crucial errors that led to Detroit’s only runs.
In the first inning, center fielder Angel Martinez bobbled a ball, allowing Kerry Carpenter to stretch a single into a double. Carpenter later scored on a two-out hit.
In the seventh, first baseman Jhonkensy Noel couldn’t handle a throw, allowing Riley Greene to advance from second to third. Greene then came home on a sacrifice bunt.
For Game 2, the Guardians will hand the ball to Tanner Bibee in an effort to extend their season. He’ll face Casey Mize, motivated after being left off Detroit’s postseason roster last year at Progressive Field.
Cleveland Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee throws in the first inning of Game 2 of the American League Wild Card baseball playoff series against the Detroit Tigers in Cleveland, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Bibee will need to set the tone and deliver a quality start, something he has shown he can do. He’s been dominant against the Tigers this season, throwing 19 innings with 21 strikeouts and a 0.95 ERA. If he stays on that track, the Guardians have a strong chance to force Game 3.
Cleveland already staged the biggest comeback in MLB history, erasing a 15-game deficit over the final two months. Winning two more games feels like a small task by comparison, and Bibee can also lean on his postseason experience from last year.
“Anytime you make the postseason, no matter what, the team is going to be excited and ready to go, the energy is going to be there. The crowd is going to bring the energy as well,” Bibee said to the media pregame before Game 1.
“These are some of the easier games to play for just because there’s so much energy, so much adrenaline, and just turns into playing the game.”
Last postseason, Bibee made four appearances, striking out 16 over 15.2 innings with a 3.45 ERA.
“I feel good right now. For me, when I’m in the best head space, getting my pitches in the zone where I want them,” Bibee said on his mindset for Game 2. “I think tomorrow turns into competing, and the competitive fire will be there. It will be — got to fill out the zone and attack them.”
Bibee can pitch a gem, but Cleveland still needs much more from its offense to force a decisive Game 3. The Guardians managed only four hits in Game 1, none for extra bases.
Leadoff spark plug Steven Kwan went 0-for-4. They won’t win many games without him producing, or José Ramírez failing to deliver extra-base hits. Ramírez also hurt them on the basepaths in the game’s biggest moment, and that simply can’t happen again.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize throws in the first inning of Game 2 of the American League Wild Card baseball playoff series against the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
Tigers Game 2 starter Casey Mize spoke about the challenge of facing José Ramírez.
“When people ask me who are some of the toughest players you’ve ever played against, José is one of the first two, three, four that comes out of my mouth,” Mize said before Game 1.
“He’s such a talented guy all the way around. Steals bases, hits for power, plays excellent defense. It’s all there. And I know he’s a leader of that team and he’s a constant. You think of Cleveland, you think of José.”
Mize has experienced the highs and lows of the league. The Tigers made him the first overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft out of Auburn. By 2022, he had earned the role of Detroit’s No. 2 starter, only to be sidelined by an elbow sprain that required Tommy John surgery.
Cleveland Guardians’ George Valera, right, celebrates with José Ramírez, left, after hitting a solo home run in the first inning of Game 2 of the American League Wild Card baseball playoff series against the Detroit Tigers in Cleveland, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/David Dermer)
He had a down year in 2024 with a 4.49 ERA, but bounced back this season with a 3.87 ERA and 139 strikeouts over 149 innings.
Against Cleveland, Mize has been even sharper — three starts, 18 strikeouts in 17.1 innings, and a 2.11 ERA.
Will Detroit finish the job and get revenge on the Guardians, or will Cleveland make them sweat by forcing a Game 3?
Photo: Tanner Bibee throws against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning of a baseball game Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
