Tigers vs. Guardians final score, result: Seventh-inning fireworks push Detroit to ALDS

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The Detroit Tigers have been guided by their pitching throughout the 2025 season. In their decisive Game 3 matchup with the Cleveland Guardians, they went to the well once more.

This time, though, Detroit's hurling heroics were matched by timely hitting. Both aspects proved pivotal for A.J. Hinch's side as it scored a 6-3 win over its division rivals, securing a spot in the ALDS in the process.

Jack Flaherty starred on the mound, retiring nine of the first 10 batters he faced. The Tigers found an early run courtesy of a Kerry Carpenter double, although their scoring slowed as Cleveland worked its way back into the game.

The Guardians leveled things at one in the fourth, setting the stage for an all-important bullpen battle. Both teams relied on their relievers as the match wore on.

In the top of the sixth, Detroit struck again on a Dillon Dingler home run. One inning later, the Tigers' advantage bloomed after back-to-back-to-back RBI singles by Wenceel Perez, Spencer Torkelson, and Riley Greene.

Cleveland huffed and puffed in the eighth and ninth innings, but the Guardians weren't able to find a road back against their heated rivals, seeing their season come to a close in front of their home fans. Detroit, meanwhile, will now ready itself for its next test — a clash with Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, and the Seattle Mariners.

The Sporting News tracked live updates from Sunday's game at Progressive Field. Follow below for highlights, analysis, and more from the Tigers' epic win on enemy turf.

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)

End of ninth inning: Tigers 6, Guardians 3

5:59 p.m.: Pinch-hitter Daniel Schneeman grounds out into first as the Tigers move on! They'll face the Mariners in the ALDS!

5:57 p.m.: DeLauter chops a grounder into pitcher Will Vest for the second out.

5:56 p.m.: Baez roams across the infield to corral Kyle Monzardo's weak grounder and return it to sender at first base. One down.

5:54 p.m.: Cleveland keeps the lead at three as the ball rolls into the bottom of the ninth. The Guardians have three outs left to keep their season alive. Can they get it done?

End of eighth inning: Tigers 6, Guardians 3

5:48 p.m.: TWO-RUN ERROR! The Guardians have some work to do to cut into the Tigers' advantage. They gave themselves a shot in the bottom of the eighth, producing two runs after Rocchio and Kwan crossed the plate on an error.

Tigers 6, Guardians 3

End of seventh inning: Tigers 6, Guardians 1

5:25 p.m.: Cleveland's bats go quiet once more. The Guardians have just six outs to save their season.

5:13 p.m.: RBI SINGLE! Greene gets in on the action, bringing around Perez with another feisty single. This one is getting out of hand.

Tigers 6, Guardians 1

5:12 p.m.: RBI SINGLE! Torkelson drives in Carpenter as Detroit's lead swells.

Tigers 5, Guardians 1

5:10 p.m.: TWO-RUN SINGLE! After loading the bases via intentional walk, Wenceel Perez launches a rocket into right field. The effort skips off the grass, bringing around Baez and Meadows to triple Detroit's advantage.

Tigers 4, Guardians 1

5:04 p.m.: Meadows adds to Cleveland's misery after attempting a sacrifice squeeze to advance Baez. Not only did Baez move 90 feet. But Meadows beat out Sabrowski's throw. The Guardians pitcher will hand the ball off to Hunter Gaddis with runners on the corner and zero outs.

5:03 p.m.: Baez leads off the seventh with a boom, ripping a liner off the left field wall before striding into second base for the double. The pressure is already on Sabrowski and Co.

End of sixth inning: Tigers 2, Guardians 1

5:00 p.m.: Finnegan had to work to get out of the sixth inning, firing off 19 pitches. But he exits the frame with the score unchanged.

4:51 p.m.: Sabrowski coaxes McKinstry into a groundout to end the inning.

4:50 p.m.: Cantillo's day is over after Dingler's dinger. He'll be replaced by Erik Sabrowski.

4:46 p.m.: HOME RUN! Dillon Dingler gets a hold of a Cantillo changeup that caught too much of the plate. He subsequently deposits the meatball into the left field bleachers, giving Detroit's weary attack a lead.

DILLON DINGER 🛎️#BuiltForOctober pic.twitter.com/9MUHwDHOMg

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) October 2, 2025

Tigers 2, Guardians 1

End of fifth inning: Tigers 1, Guardians 1

4:40 p.m.: Finnegan gets the decisive third out. 

4:36 p.m.: After recording the first two outs of the fifth, Flaherty walks Kayfus. The Tigers hurler will exit the contest with a final line of 4.2 innings, four strikeouts and one earned run surrendered. Kyle Finnegan will take the ball and attempt to lead Detroit back into the dugout.

4:30 p.m.: Cantillo records a timely double play to get out of the fifth. Onto the bottom half we go.

End of fourth inning: Tigers 1, Guardians 1

4:23 p.m.: Flaherty prevents any additional runs from crossing the plate as the inning comes to a close following a DeLauter double play.

4:18 p.m.: RBI SINGLE! Who else but Jose Ramirez could set fireworks off at Progressive Field. The perennial All-Star got low to connect with Flaherty's knuckle curve, ripping it into right field to drive in Valera! He was summarily sent packing after attempting to swipe second. But we're level here at Progressive Field as a result of his intervention.

Love you, Hosey.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/eyLo584YXP

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) October 2, 2025

Tigers 1, Guardians 1

4:16 p.m.: George Valera leads off with an unruly double that caroms off the outfield wall. That's just what the doctor ordered for Cleveland's dormant offense.

4:12 p.m.: Cantillo firmed up as the inning wore on. The Hawai'i native dispatched of Baez via strikes before coaxing Meadows into flyout to shallow left.

4:09 p.m.: Cantillo starting to make some trouble for himself. Greene got on via fiery liner to left field, while McKinstry walked on four straight balls. Up steps Baez with one away.

4:03 p.m.: Joey Cantillo strides onto the mound for the Guardians. He'll start his day with a matchup against Riley Greene.

End of third inning: Tigers 1, Guardians 0

4:02 p.m.: Another 1-2-3 inning for Flaherty, who remains as efficient as ever through three.

3:55 p.m.: Herrin gets the Guardians out the inning before the score grew too crooked. Flaherty will have the lead when he returns to the mound.

3:50 p.m.: RBI DOUBLE! Carpenter squeezes his effort past first baseman CJ Kayfus to open the scoring. Kayfus' unconvincing fielding also allowed Torres to take third.

Kerry starts us off! pic.twitter.com/JZUG6ylgUx

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) October 2, 2025

Tigers 1, Guardians 0

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.

First Big League hit for our guy. 👏#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/voEjrOaMai

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) October 2, 2025

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