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.

Detroit clinched a 2025 postseason berth with a 2-1 win at Fenway, riding timely hits and a game-saving dive by Javier Báez as Tarik Skubal prepares to start Game 1 of the wild-card series. The bullpen, paced by Keider Montero and Rafael Montero, delivered 4⅔ innings of scoreless relief, sealing the win for a club that stressed staying focused on the path ahead.

Leadership from A.J. Hinch, Scott Harris, and owner Christopher Ilitch framed the moment as a clean slate after a roller-coaster finish, with the “sum-of-the-parts” approach paying off. The Tigers advance with momentum and a roster built to thrive in a short series, ready to attack Game 1 with 0-0 stakes.

Jahmai Jones opened with a 400-foot leadoff homer and Detroit snapped an eight-game slide by beating Cleveland 4-2, pulling even with the Guardians at 86-73 in the AL Central with three to play. Cleveland owns the tiebreaker after an 8-5 season-series edge; both clubs sit a game ahead of Houston for the final wild-card spot as the postseason picture tightens.

Perez and Riley Greene joined Jones with homers off Parker Messick, Brant Hurter earned the win and Will Vest locked down the save. Detroit used a bullpen game from Troy Melton to cover the middle innings. Ramirez added a franchise-record 726th extra-base hit with a decisive RBI double for Cleveland, while Messick’s four-run start ended a 19-game streak of two or fewer runs allowed by the Guardians’ rotation.

Hinch revisits West Sacramento and the first River Cats game at Raley Field, recalling his 26th birthday as catcher and the park’s enduring appeal. The Athletics will spend 2025-27 at Sutter Health Park before moving to Las Vegas, sharing the venue with Sacramento’s Giants affiliate. Brant Hurter’s back soreness lands him on the 7-day IL after a bullpen session post-triple-A Toledo demotion. Parker Meadows remains out with a quad, with a rehab test looming ahead of a potential Kansas City stint for a Tigers’ three-game set.