Game 3 in Cleveland carries the winner take all weight as the Guardians try to ride momentum from a late rally. Key focus is converting runners in scoring position, leaning on a bullpen plan that handles Cecconi early and keeps Cantillo in ready mode, and starting Chase DeLauter to inject left handed power and defensive versatility. Rocchio and Naylor supplied the big blows while Kwan and Schneeman provided insurance doubles. Detroit staggered with RISP and left 15 on base, setting Cleveland up for the ALDS showdown with Seattle.

Brayan Rocchio delivered the clutch for Cleveland with an eighth-inning go-ahead homer on a 0-2 fastball, fueling a 6-1 win that evened the AL Wild Card Series with Detroit. Bo Naylor followed with an eighth-inning homer and George Valera also went deep, sparking a five-run burst to seize control. The Guardians bullpen locked it down as Cleveland capitalized on a frustrated Detroit with 15 runners left on base for the Tigers.

Game 3 looms as the decisive matchup in the best-of-three, with Detroit’s Jack Flaherty set to start against Cleveland’s Slade Cecconi. Detroit’s offense stranded runners all day (1-for-15 with RISP) and left a bases-loaded chance in the ninth, while Cleveland leaned on Rocchio’s playoff form and timely blasts to swing momentum in their favor.

Guardians pull away with a five-run eighth to beat Detroit 6-1 and even the AL Wild Card series. Detroit’s offense collapses with a franchise postseason-record 15 left on base, going 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position, while Javier Báez provides the Tigers’ lone hit in the fourth. Brayan Rocchio belts a go-ahead homer in the eighth as Steven Kwan and Daniel Schneemann add back-to-back doubles and Bo Naylor caps it with a three-run shot. A video-replay two-base play on McKinstry causes a late delay, and Greene watches a pinch-hit move for Jahmai Jones.

Detroit’s pitchers Casey Mize, Tyler Holton and Kyle Finnegan shut Cleveland down for seven innings before the eighth, but Troy Melton and Brant Hurter faltered in relief. The Tigers’ aggressiveness on the bases keeps the game tight early, but Cleveland's bullpen locks it down late. Hinch’s decision to pinch-hit for Riley Greene in the seventh becomes a talking point as the Guardians seize control and shift momentum into the decisive Game 3.