Detroit Tigers vs Cleveland Guardians Today Score: Live Updates

As a baseball fan, you live for it. As a baseball player, you dream of it in your backyard while playing whiffle ball. Win or go home. That's it.

The Detroit Tigers bought themselves some wiggle room by winning Game 2 on Tarik Skubal and taking care of business with a relatively pressure-free Game 3, but surrendering Beau Brees gave them a chance to close out the series in Game 4. A huge home run to David Frye, flipping the game – and the series – on its head.

Game 5 got off to a pretty mundane start, with Matthew Boyd striking out three Tiger hitters in the first inning after allowing two base runners, while Steven Kwan got on base on a freak hit that could have been an error, but Skubal worked around the runner with ease.

Skubal was working his magic again to start Game 5 and after Kerry Carpenter drove in the game's first run with a single in the top of the fifth, things were looking good. But as soon as it started, it all fell apart. Skubal gave up a grand slam to Lane Thomas, giving the Guardians a 5-1 lead.

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The big question entering the game was the status of Carpenter, the Game 2 hero, who had to leave Game 4 after tweaking his hamstring while rounding third base to score a run. The Tigers have been relatively quiet about Carpenter's status, saying he is a game-time decision, but manager AJ Hinch indicated he was encouraged by what he saw from Carpenter Saturday morning at Progressive Field.

Carpenter was not scratched from the lineup, and entered the game in the fifth inning to pinch hit for Justin-Henry Malloy against right-handed pitcher Andrew Walters. He delivered in a big way, driving in the game's first run, but the Tigers lost the lead in the bottom of the fifth.

The winner of Game 5 will travel to the Bronx to take on the New York Yankees in the ALCS.

Follow along for live updates of the winner-takes-all Game 5 in Cleveland below.

Tigers vs. Guardians ALDS Game 5 Live Updates, Highlights

Sixth inning: The Tigers get one back, but Kerry Carpenter misses a bases-loaded strikeout opportunity to give the Guardians a 5-2 lead.

You have to give the Tigers credit. They could have been wiped out after Lane Thomas' go-ahead grand slam, but they didn't. Jake Rogers drove in a run with two outs in the sixth and the Tigers were able to load the bases thanks to a single by Rogers and walks from Parker Meadows and Trey Sweeney. It seemed like everyone was building up to another huge Kerry Carpenter moment, but this time, the slugger struck out as Guardians reliever Hunter Gaddis blew his fastball.

After the Tigers missed opportunity, Tarik Skubal worked incredibly fast to retire the team needing only five pitches.

Bottom of the fifth: It hurts: Tarik Skubal gives up grand slam as game slips away from Tigers; Guardians lead 5-1

Everything that could go wrong went wrong for the Tigers in the fifth inning. After giving up singles to Andres Gimenez and Brian Roccio, David Frye got a lucky Dink infield single to load the bases. Then Scubal hit Jose Ramirez, driving in the tying run with the bases loaded and one out. Then – the hero of Game 1 for the Guardians, Lane Thomas, blasted a grand salami to break open a close game and put the Tigers in a truly terrifying strait.

Top of the fifth: Carey…wonderful…Carpenter delivers on one leg, drives in Trey Sweeney on a deep single for a 1-0 lead.

Parents are well aware of what Kerry Carpenter is capable of. He was the hero in Game 2 and delivered an absolute missile of a home run in the ninth inning to give the Tigers a 3-0 lead. With the Tigers' offense stuttering, AJ Hinch decided it was worth subbing in Guardians RHP Andrew Walters, one leg and all facing Carpenter. Carpenter was hurt in Game 4 while rounding third base and had a game-time decision with a hamstring injury. But when the Tigers need Carpenter again, he delivers. He blasted a single to deep right-center field that would easily have been a double if he had been able to even jog, but was severely limited by a leg injury. The single was good enough to drive in shortstop Trey Sweeney after a walk gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

Top of the Fourth: The Tigers get two good at-bats, but can't score again as the game is tied 0-0.

Spencer Torkelson had perhaps the best at-bat of the game with two outs in the fourth, battling and eventually blasting a ball to deep left-center field that looked like it was going to be a home run. . The ball hits the middle of the high wall and Torkelson gets a double. Parker Meadows followed that up with another great at-bat, drawing a walk, but Zac Rogers ground ball to short to end the top of the inning.

Third innings: Tarik Skubal goes into beast mode to escape the jam after a rare Riley Green error; The game is tied 0-0

Malloy, Vierling and Green went down in stride as the Tigers continued to struggle at the plate before turning the bats over to Cleveland. For the first time of the day, the Guardians really made the Tigers and Skubal sweat when Brian Riccio singled to left and then Steven Kwan reached second base on an uncharacteristic error by Riley Green in left field that put the Tigers in a real jam. With an out. Skubal turned up the dial with pressure, hitting 100 mph multiple times and striking out David Frye and forcing a pop out from Lane Thomas. Avoid disaster.

Second inning: Tigers can't drive in Parker Meadows after double; Skubaal tied the game 0-0

After Tarik Skubal worked around a nasty hit from Steven Cowan in the first inning, the Tigers looked like they were working on something in the second inning. Parker Meadows slapped a double down the left-field line and then stole third base to get in great position with one out. However, the Tigers continued their playoff push with runners in scoring position as Zach Rogers flied out to right field, but it was too shallow to score Meadows and then Trey Sweeney had an uncontested strikeout to end the inning. Skubal then made quick work of the Guardians in the second, striking out one and forcing two groundouts.

Top 1st: Tigers 2 runners on Matthew Boyd 3 runs

Matthew Boyd looked a little shaky out of the gate, hitting Justin-Henry Malloy in the first at-bat of the game, but bounced back on a strikeout by Matt Vierling. Boyd then walked Riley Green to put the runner on second, but corrected the error by striking out Andy Ibanez and Wenzel Perez to end the inning.

Tigers vs. Guardians ALDS Game 5 Pregame Notes

Built for:The Detroit Tigers' season isn't a mirage or even magic — they're built to win Game 5 of the ALDS.

With a win, the Tigers advance to the ALCS to play the New York Yankees for the American League pennant while a loss ends the Tigers' run in 2024.

The Tigers had a chance to close out the series at home in Game 4, but were pushed the distance and lost a closely fought game 5-4. It was a back-and-forth battle at Comerica Park, and the Guardians came out on top with another clutch hit, a pinch-hit two-run home run from David Fry, to keep their season alive.

The Tigers drafted star pitcher Tarik Skubal to pitch in the deciding game. Skubal is 2-0 in the postseason after going 13 innings of shutout ball, including seven innings of shutout ball against the Guardians in Game 2 to set up a late rally. On the other hand, former Tiger and left-hander Matthew Boyd got his second start of the series for Cleveland when he started Game 2 and went 4⅔ innings without allowing a run.

Designated hitter Kerry Carpenter is still a game-time decision with a hamstring injury, while catcher Jake Rogers is fully active after taking a foul ball off his catching wrist.

– Jared Ramsey

Tigers Game 5 Lineup:

1. Justin-Henry Malloy DH
2. Matt Vierling 3b
3. Riley Green LF
4. Andy Ibanez 2b
5. Wenzel Perez RF
6. Spencer Torkelson 1b
7. Parker Meadows cf
8. Jake Rogers c
9. Trey Swinney SS

Guardians Game 5 Lineup:

1. Steven Kwan LF
2. David Fry DH
3. Jose Ramirez 3b
4. Lane Thomas cf
5. Josh Naylor 1b
6. Johnson Noel RF
7. Bow Naylor c
8. Andres Jimenez 2b
9. Brian Rocheo SS

What: 5 games of the ALDS in the 2024 MLB playoffs.

When: Saturday 1:08 pm.

Where: Progressive field in Cleveland.

TV: TBS.

TV Announcer: Brian Anderson and Jeff Francoeur.

Livestream: on Sling TV.

Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1) in Detroit (Tigers Radio Affiliate); Nationally on ESPN Radio.

Jake Rogers (C), Dillon Dingler (C), Andy Ibanez (2B/3B), Colt Keith (2B), Jess Jung (3B), Zach McKinstry (UTIL), Trey Sweeney (SS), Spencer Torkelson (1B), Matt Vierling (3B/OF), Riley Green (OF), Parker Meadows (CF), Kerry Carpenter (OF/DH), Wenzel Perez (OF), Justin-Henry Malloy (DH/OF), Beau Briske (RHP), Jason Foley (RHP), Sean Guenther (LHP), Brennan Hanifi (RHP), Tyler Holton (LHP), Brant Harter (LHP), Jackson Jobe (RHP), Ty Madden (RHP), Keider Montero (RHP), Reese Olson (RHP), Tarik Skubal (LHP), Will Vest (RHP).

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