Chasing October: Wild-card series live takeaways

theScore provides running analysis and insights throughout the 2025 MLB wild-card series, starting Tuesday and running through Thursday if necessary. Keep checking back for updates as the opening round unfolds.

7th inning: Williams' day is done. The righty gave up a leadoff double to Riley Greene to kick off the seventh. After a mound visit, Williams then coughed up a single to Wenceel Pérez that easily could've been an out if Jhonkensy Noel managed to keep his foot on the bag. First out of the 'pen is Hunter Gaddis in this incredible pitcher's duel to start off the postseason, who gives up the lead on a sacrifice bunt from Zach McKinstry. Small ball aficionados: eat your hearts out. Williams' line closes at two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk over six frames. He did his job. Skubal has done his even better.

4th inning: There's no question Skubal is amped up this afternoon. Everything the southpaw throws is at least 1 mph faster than his season norm. How long can the adrenaline last? An 0-2 dribbler up the middle by leadoff man Angel Martínez is followed by a full-count walk to José Ramírez. After bouncing back to retire the next two hitters on six straight strikes, Skubal surrenders another chopper up the middle and the game is tied. A brilliant attempt at making the play by Skubal is overturned on review. The ball hasn't left the infield this inning. This is Guardians baseball.

1st inning: The first run comes courtesy of a Spencer Torkelson RBI single, but it's Kerry Carpenter's baserunning in the previous at-bat that really generated the tally. The Tigers DH was able to round first and head for second on a poorly fielded ground ball by right fielder Johnathan Rodríguez. It's ruled a single and a one-base error. The Guardians finished with 18 outfield errors, third-most among the teams in the playoff field. They ranked as the fourth-worst defensive outfield in the majors this year (and by far the worst of the postseason crowd) by Statcast's outs above average.

1st inning: And the 2025 MLB postseason is underway. Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams gets a quick one-pitch out on a lazy Parker Meadows fly ball to left field. He's got a tough assignment going up against the reigning and presumptive AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. The Tigers open as heavy favorites to win Game 1 (-165, according to ESPN BET and theScore Bet) and slight faves to win the series (-120) despite being on the road for all three games. And that line makes sense given Cleveland is the only team in the playoff field with a negative run differential. Things certainly aren't hopeless for the AL Central champs, though. Skubal made his last two starts of the year against the Guardians, and the Tigers lost both (the lefty was credited with one of the losses). In total over those outings, Skubal allowed four runs (two earned) on 11 hits and five walks over 12 innings while striking out 17. Meanwhile, Williams' last two starts of the regular season also came against the Tigers and he won both, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out 21 over 11 frames.