American League Central rivals wrap a four-game series Thursday afternoon, as the Cleveland Guardians visit the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
The Guardians (28–22, 1st AL Central) will look to complete the sweep following Wednesday’s 3–2 victory in extra innings. The Tigers (20–30, 5th AL Central) will attempt to salvage the series and snap a five-game skid.
Looking at the pitching probables, we’ve got Cleveland southpaw Joey Cantillo (3–1, 3.40 ERA) taking on Detroit right-hander Casey Mize (2–2, 2.43 ERA).
First pitch is tabbed for 1:10 p.m. ET. The Tigers enter as slight -115 home favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Guardians sit at -105 on the moneyline, with the game total set at O/U 7.5 runs.
Guardians vs. Tigers Preview
Cleveland Guardians
It seems as though Cleveland’s luck has finally started to turn. The Guardians — who have posted the lowest BABIP in the American League this season — rank in MLB’s top five in wRC+, wOBA, and total runs scored since May 6. This torrid stretch has coincided with a league-best 11–3 record, vaulting the club back on top of the AL Central.
The Guards have also continued to net solid returns from their formidable pitching staff, though they’d like to get more consistency out of Thursday’s starter, Joey Cantillo. The 26-year-old southpaw owns a 3.40 ERA (3.90 xERA) with a 1.35 WHIP across 10 starts (50.1 IP) in 2026. While he’s gotten bailed out recently by substantial run support, Cantillo has struggled to limit home runs and free passes. Most recently, he coughed up four earned runs over five frames on four hits (one homer) and four walks against the Reds.
Detroit Tigers
While their division rivals continue to surge, the Tigers have been in complete freefall. Wednesday’s loss punctuated an MLB-worst 2–13 record dating back to May 4.
During this tailspin, the Tigers ranked 28th in wRC+ and wOBA, while mustering the fewest runs in the sport. And if there was any question about how Detroit’s rotation would fare without Tarik Skubal, the answer is “really bad.” It has posted a 5.50 ERA during this spiral — 25th in MLB.
However, Casey Mize has remained a constant bright spot for the beleaguered starting unit. The 29-year-old right-hander has posted a 2.43 ERA (2.99 xERA) with a 1.05 WHIP across seven starts (37 IP), ranking above MLB’s 75th percentile in strikeout rate and xBA. He’s coming off six shutout frames with four Ks against the Blue Jays.
Guardians vs. Tigers Pick, Best Bet
A lot has changed since the Guardians and Tigers went down to the wire in last year’s division race before going head-to-head in the AL Wild Card. Cleveland has been one of the hottest teams in baseball and should continue beating up on its struggling division rival. Count on the Guards to polish off a four-game road sweep Thursday afternoon.
