Tigers vs. Guardians live score, updates, highlights from AL Wild Card Game 3 in 2025 MLB playoffs

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The Cleveland Guardians' bats were quiet for much of the regular season. But on Wednesday, the wretched wands found life.

Facing elimination against the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland's offense rallied for five runs in the eighth inning of Game 2, turning a tied game into a comfortable 6-1 win. The result pushed the Guardians' AL Wild Card Series tilt against their divisional rivals to a decisive third game, setting the stage for another memorable finale at Progressive Field.

Cleveland's home ground has played host to plenty of notable moments, from Roberto Alomar and Omar Vizquel's heroics in the 1997 ALDS to Rajai Davis' game-tying blast in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series. The trend continued in last year's postseason, with Stephen Vogt's side scoring a momentous victory over the Yankees in Game 3 of the ALCS after Jhonkensy Noel and David Fry launched late comets into the moody Cleveland sky.

They'll have their work cut out for them against the Tigers, who sport one of MLB's most fearsome rotations. Jack Flaherty will take the mound in Game 3 for Detroit. He has championship pedigree, having fired arrows from the bump for the Los Angeles Dodgers this time last year.

A winner-take-all Game 3 is apt for this series; the two sides finished one game apart in the AL Central standings. What better way to clinch entry into MLB's Elite Eight than by besting one of your biggest rivals to do so?

The Sporting News is tracking live updates from Guardians vs. Tigers in Game 3 of the 2025 American League Wild Card Series. Follow below for highlights, analysis, and more as two of the AL's best sides vie for a spot in the AL Divisional Series.

STREAM: Watch Guardians vs. Tigers Game 3 live in ESPN app

Tigers vs. Guardians score

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Tigers vs. Guardians live updates, highlights from AL Wild Card Game 3

(All times ET)

3:47 p.m.: Torres' groundball single brings Meadows to third and knocks Cecchoni out of the game. He'll be replaced by southpaw Tim Herrin. His first matchup? Fellow lefty Kerry Carpenter.

3:46 p.m.: Austin Meadows takes first after whipping a Cecchoni changeup into right field. The Guardians are already warming up their bullpen.

End of second inning: Tigers 0, Guardians 0

3:39 p.m.: Bo Naylor pops out in foul ground as the Guardians return to the field.

3:35 p.m.: Rookie Chase DeLauter collects his first career hit, slipping a scorcher past second base. His family, watching from the stands, beamed with pride upon sight of the single.

3:32 p.m.: Cecchino dispatches of Zach McKinstry via groundout to bring the inning to a close. Far shorter frame for the Guardians hurler than in the first, when he threw 26 pitches.

End of first inning: Tigers 0, Guardians 0

3:25 p.m.: Ramirez is set down on strikes. It's a 1-2-3 inning for Flaherty.

3:19 p.m.: Cecconi whiffs Spencer Torkelson to get out of the frame. That's his second K of the contest.

3:10 p.m.: And we're off! Cecconi takes on Gleyber Torres to kick off the contest.

2:30 p.m.: The Tigers will have ample support in Progressive Field. They also received some cheers from a group of familiar faces:

Supporting the squad from home today pic.twitter.com/TAbdteGJZX

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) October 2, 2025

2:15 p.m.: Here's a look at the starting lineups for this afternoon's clash:

Let's finish what we started.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/3ctNT5hLF4

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) October 2, 2025

Game 3 ⤵️#BuiltForOctober pic.twitter.com/G9nE6gvE66

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) October 2, 2025

2:00 p.m.: Standing on the mound for the Tigers is former Cardinals pitcher Jack Flaherty. He posted a 4.64 ERA across 31 starts, good for an 89 ERA+. He'll face off against Guardians Slade Cecconi, who posted a 2.25 ERA against Detroit this season.

Where to watch Tigers vs. Guardians today

Tigers vs. Guardians start time

• Date: Thursday, October 2
• Time: 3 p.m. ET

The rubber match of the Guardians and Tigers' three-game set in the AL Wild Card Series will kick off at 3 p.m. ET from Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio.

Game 2 of Yankees vs. Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Series will begin at 6 p.m. ET from Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York. 

What channel is Tigers vs. Guardians on today?

• TV Channel: ABC
• Stream: ESPN app, Fubo

Cleveland and Detroit's AL Wild Card tilt will air on ABC nationally. Sean McDonough (play-by-play) and Todd Frazier (analyst) will be on the call, while Taylor McGregor will offer musings from the sideline.

Cord-cutters can also find the action on the new ESPN app or on Fubo.

MLB playoff schedule 2025

Wild Card Series schedule

Tuesday, Sept. 30

Wednesday Oct. 1

Thursday, Oct. 2

*If necessary; Game 3 times subject to change

Division Series schedule, scores

Saturday, Oct. 4

Sunday, Oct. 5

Monday, Oct. 6

Tuesday, Oct. 7

Wednesday, Oct. 8

*If necessary 

Thursday, Oct. 9

*If necessary 

Friday, Oct. 10

Saturday, Oct. 11

*If necessary 

League Championship Series schedule

Sunday, Oct. 12

Monday, Oct. 13

Tuesday, Oct. 14

Wednesday, Oct. 15

Thursday, Oct. 16

Friday, Oct. 17

*If necessary 

Saturday, Oct. 18

*If necessary 

Sunday, Oct. 19

*If necessary 

Monday, Oct. 20

*If necessary 

Tuesday, Oct. 21

*If necessary 

World Series schedule 2025

Friday, Oct. 24

Saturday, Oct. 25

Monday, Oct. 27

Tuesday, Oct. 28

Wednesday, Oct. 29

*If necessary 

Friday, Oct. 31

*If necessary 

Saturday, Nov. 1

*If necessary