Between having a first-year manager and a season-ending injury to ace pitcher Shane Bieber, few commentators gave the Guardians a second thought, especially concerning the postseason. Since then, the youngest team in baseball has surprised the league and delighted fans all season long, winning the AL Central Division and a bye straight to the ALDS.

The Cleveland Guardians will heavily rely on Lane Thomas and David Fry against the Detroit Tigers' left-handed pitching.

The Guardians won the American League Central with 92 victories. The Tigers, the third AL Central team to secure a playoff spot, won 15 of their last 20 games in the regular season before sweeping the No. 3 Houston Astros in the wild card series.