Detroit hands rookie Troy Melton the ball for Game 1 of the ALDS against Seattle, opting for a young arm over a rest-weary veteran plan. Melton debuted in July, logged 3-2 with a 2.76 ERA in 45 2/3 innings, and showed a 96.8 mph four-seam fastball with a heavy fastball usage that ranks high among the Tigers’ staff. His only playoff inning previously ended with four runs, but Detroit plans to ride him with support from a bullpen capable of covering early sections and a lineup that has built flexibility around him.

Melton’s path from fourth-round pick in 2022 to major-league starter in 2024 underscores Detroit’s risk-tavorable scouting, and his mix of power velo with slider and cutter gives him swing-and-miss upside even in a short outing. The Tigers will lean on his heater while monitoring leash length in Seattle’s ballpark, aiming to minimize exposure to the lineup that will clash with him in a do-or-die environment. Fantasy-wise, Melton is a contrarian dart with upside but limited inning expectation in a Game 1 environment.

Dillon Dingler's 6th-inning homer on a 1-1 changeup gave Detroit the lead, and Wenceel Pérez drove in two as the Tigers rallied for a 6-3 win over Cleveland to advance to the AL Division Series in Seattle. Dingler’s first postseason hit and RBI sparks a confident Tigers lineup as they ride a 7th-inning explosion that sent 10 batters to the plate and produced four runs.

Detroit capitalized on a shaky Guardians bullpen, with Pérez, Spencer Torkelson, and Riley Greene driving in runs in the seventh. Kyle Finnegan earned the win, while Cleveland’s Erik Sabrowski took the loss. Jose Ramírez supplied Cleveland’s early run and stayed active, but the Guardians ran out of steam in the best-of-three.

Next up: Tigers vs. Mariners in Seattle. Cleveland had rallied to this point but couldn’t sustain the comeback, ending Detroit’s road-wild-card win streak and setting the stage for a tough but intriguing ALDS.

Guardians offense erupts late to beat the Tigers 6-1 and force a deciding Game 3 with a 3:08 pm start. Shifts in scheduling dull the crowd, but Cleveland’s bats finally woke when it mattered, and the bullpen will be tested as Slade Cecconi and a short leash define the opener, with Cade Smith likely ready to cover multiple innings and Joey Cantillo ready if needed. A win would push Cleveland toward an ALDS with Seattle.

Dodgers’ Wild Card win over Cincinnati tightens the Thursday slate to three must-win games, ratcheting up the pressure across the league. If Cleveland survives, the Guardians chase a marquee matchup vs. Seattle, proving their youth and depth can carry them deep. Detroit pivots to a hard exit, while the NL side set the stage for a chaotic, win-or-go-home day in baseball.

Guardians evened the AL Wild Card series by routing Detroit 6-1, turning six hits into six runs behind a stingy bullpen and a repeatable game plan that kept Tigers off the bases. Cleveland wiggled out of trouble all afternoon, stranding 15 runners and flipping the momentum in their favor.

Game 3 in Cleveland pits Slade Cecconi against Jack Flaherty, with Detroit as a slight underdog but clear path to vengeance if they string hits together. Key fantasy angles center on McKinstry, Torkelson, Kwan and Ramirez, plus the potential for a high-leverage bullpen battle that could swing the outcome.

Betting angles focus on the 7.0 total and Guardians at -1.5, with a lean toward Detroit +1.5 in a winner-take-all scenario. The series winner will meet Seattle in the next round, making every at-bat a potential shift in the odds and in fantasy value across both lineups.