The Tigers will hand the ball to left-hander Tarik Skubal in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Guardians on Tuesday afternoon.
That's usually a recipe for success for Detroit. Skubal just capped off another brilliant season, leading the AL with a 2.21 ERA. He's all but a formality to win his second consecutive Cy Young Award later this fall. The Tigers went 21-10 across Skubal's 31 starts in the regular season.
But the two-time All-Star has some demons to conquer against a Cleveland team that has gotten the best of him lately. In an odd scheduling quirk, this will be Skubal's third straight start against the Guardians; the Tigers lost both of the previous two games.
Not to mention, Skubal surrendered an eventual game-winning grand slam to Lane Thomas in the decisive Game 5 of last year's ALDS matchup, won by Cleveland in five games.
Will Skubal rise to the occasion? Or will Cleveland's relentless "Guards Ball" approach prevail yet again?
Here's everything that you need to know about watching Guardians vs. Tigers today in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series.
What channel is Guardians vs. Tigers on today?
Game 1 of Guardians vs. Tigers will air nationally on ESPN with Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Todd Frazier (analyst) and Taylor McGregor (reporter) on the call.
Viewers can stream the game live on the brand new ESPN app.
Now you can watch ESPN without cable. Stream live NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, college sports, plus SportsCenter, First Take, and all your favorite ESPN shows—anytime, anywhere—only in the new ESPN app.
Another streaming option is Fubo, which offers a free trial, so you can try before you buy.
Guardians vs. Tigers start time
- Date: Tuesday, Sept. 30
- Time: 1:08 p.m. ET
First pitch of Guardians vs. Tigers is set for 1:08 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Sept. 30.
The game will be played at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio since the Guardians won the AL Central and earned the No. 3 seed. It's the first game in a best-of-three playoff series.
Guardians vs. Tigers radio station
- Radio channel: SiriusXM
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MLB Wild Card schedule
Tuesday, Sept. 30
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1: Guardians vs. Tigers | 1:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 1: Cubs vs. Padres | 3:08 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 1: Yankees vs. Red Sox | 6:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 1: Dodgers vs. Reds | 9:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
Wednesday, Oct. 1
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| Game 2: Guardians vs. Tigers | 1:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 2: Cubs vs. Padres | 3:08 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 2: Yankees vs. Red Sox | 6:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 2: Dodgers vs. Reds | 9:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
Thursday, Oct. 2
Thursday schedule subject to change based on how many series go three games.
| Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live stream |
|---|---|---|
| Game 3: Guardians vs. Tigers* | 1:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 3: Cubs vs. Padres* | 3:08 p.m. | ABC, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 3: Yankees vs. Red Sox* | 6:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
| Game 3: Dodgers vs. Reds* | 9:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN app, Fubo |
*If necessary