The Detroit Tigers are heading back to the American League Division Series. Behind Dillon Dingler’s first career postseason homer and a four-run surge in the seventh inning, the Tigers defeated the Cleveland Guardians 6-3 in Thursday’s decisive Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series at Progressive Field. With the win, Detroit took the series 2-1 and advanced to face the AL West champion Seattle Mariners.
It marks the second straight year the Tigers have won a Wild Card Series on the road, another testament to their ability to respond under pressure.
“This team has shown resilience all year,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “To see young players like Dillon and Wenceel Pérez step into the moment says a lot about where we’re headed.”
Locked in a 1-1 tie in the sixth inning, Detroit’s rookie catcher Dillon Dingler changed the game with one swing. Facing left-hander Joey Cantillo, Dingler worked the count to 1-1 before launching an elevated changeup 401 feet into the left-center bleachers. The solo blast not only gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead, it also marked Dingler’s first career postseason hit and RBI.
Detroit turned the game in its favor for good with a relentless four-run seventh inning. Ten Tigers came to the plate as Cleveland’s bullpen unraveled:
With the bases loaded, Wenceel Pérez lined a two-run single to right, scoring Javier Báez and Parker Meadows. Spencer Torkelson followed with an RBI single. Riley Greene capped the rally with another base hit to plate Pérez. By the time the dust settled, Detroit held a commanding 6-1 lead.
Cleveland, the improbable AL Central champions, had fought their way into October after trailing by 15 ½ games in early July — the largest comeback in division history. But after evening the series with a win Wednesday, they couldn’t keep pace with Detroit’s bats in the decider.
José Ramírez remained the Guardians’ heartbeat. He drove in Cleveland’s first run with an RBI single in the fourth, his 40th career postseason hit — placing him fifth on the franchise’s all-time list. Ramírez later reached on an error in the eighth that brought home two more runs, but he was thrown out trying to stretch the play into a double, ending Cleveland’s last real rally.
Kyle Finnegan (W) was sharp in relief, setting down all four batters he faced. Joey Cantillo (L) took the loss after allowing Dingler’s go-ahead homer. Starter Jack Flaherty battled through four innings for Detroit, giving up just one run on Ramírez’s RBI single.
The Tigers now head west to face the Seattle Mariners in the ALDS, with Game 1 set for Saturday at T-Mobile Park. The Mariners, the No. 2 seed in the AL, won four of six regular-season matchups against Detroit.
For the Guardians, a remarkable comeback season ended in disappointment. For the Tigers, a chance to extend their October ride awaits.
ALDS Preview: Tigers vs. Mariners
Series begins Saturday at T-Mobile Park, Seattle. Fresh off their Wild Card Series win in Cleveland, the Detroit Tigers now turn their attention to the American League Division Series, where they’ll face the AL West champion Seattle Mariners. Game 1 is scheduled for Saturday night at T-Mobile Park.
Seattle, the No. 2 seed in the American League, took four of six games from Detroit during the regular season. The Mariners enter the matchup rested after a first-round bye, while the Tigers will try to carry momentum from their decisive Game 3 victory over the Guardians.
The Tigers arrive in the ALDS with a mix of youthful energy and postseason-tested veterans. Key bats like Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene continue to be the offensive anchors, while Wenceel Pérez and rookie catcher Dillon Dingler added crucial October production in Cleveland.
Pitching outlook as Jack Flaherty and Tarik Skubal are expected to front the rotation, with Kyle Finnegan and Alex Lange anchoring the bullpen. Despite finishing September with one of the league’s worst records (7-17), Detroit has regained its footing at the right time.
Seattle dominated the AL West with a deep rotation and a lineup that finds timely production. The Mariners’ biggest weapon is their pitching, led by Luis Castillo, George Kirby, and Logan Gilbert, one of the top trios in the majors.
Julio Rodríguez powers the offense, with Cal Raleigh, J.P. Crawford, and Ty France providing balance. Rodríguez hit .312 with 31 home runs this season, making him a matchup nightmare for opposing staffs. Bullpen: Seattle’s relief corps, headlined by Andrés Muñoz, has been among the best in baseball.
Detroit’s Young Stars vs. Seattle’s Rotation: Can Torkelson, Greene, and Pérez generate consistent offense against Castillo and Kirby? Bullpen Battles: The Tigers leaned heavily on their relief arms in Cleveland. Seattle’s rested bullpen could be decisive in tight games. Road Warriors: Detroit has now won Wild Card Series on the road in back-to-back years. They’ll need to keep that mentality in a loud T-Mobile Park atmosphere.
The Mariners are favorites on paper with home-field advantage and a deeper staff, but Detroit has already shown it can flip the script when the pressure is highest.
Schedule (Best-of-Five)
- Game 1: Saturday, at Seattle
- Game 2: Sunday, at Seattle
- Game 3: Tuesday, at Detroit
- Game 4 (if necessary): Wednesday, at Detroit
- Game 5 (if necessary): Friday, at Seattle
