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Detroit Tigers one win from first ALCS since 2013. Here's what happened in last appearance

jalen williams, detroit free press
·2 min read

The Detroit Tigers are one win from reaching their first American League Championship Series since 2013.

That's not a typo.

The Tigers beat the Cleveland Guardians 3-0 in Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Comerica Park on Wednesday, displaying a pitching and defensive masterclass to continue their blistering streak into the postseason.

The Tigers lead the best-of-five series 2-1. with Game 4 set for Thursday at Comerica Park (6:08 p.m., TNT). The Tigers need one win to advance to the ALCS against the Yankees or Royals.

Fans cheer as Detroit Tigers second base Colt Keith (33) scores off of a 6th inning double off of Detroit Tigers first base Spencer Torkelson (20) making it 3-0 as the Detroit Tigers face the Cleveland Guardians in game three of the American League Division Series at Comerica Park on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024.
Fans cheer as Detroit Tigers second base Colt Keith (33) scores off of a 6th inning double off of Detroit Tigers first base Spencer Torkelson (20) making it 3-0 as the Detroit Tigers face the Cleveland Guardians in game three of the American League Division Series at Comerica Park on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024.

Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer part of Tigers' last ALCS appearance

In 2013, the Tigers won the AL Central with a 93-69 record and faced the 2-seed Oakland Athletics in the ALDS. The series went to five games. with Justin Verlander delivering an iconic performance: eight shutout innings with 10 strikeouts.

Miguel Cabrera hit the go-ahead home run in the 3-0 victory in Game 5, reaching the ALCS. But the Tigers ran into heartbreak, losing to the eventual World Series champion Boston Red Sox in six games despite throwing a combined one-hitter in Game 1 and taking a 5-1 lead into the eighth inning of Game 2.

The Tigers, in Hall of Fame manager Jim Leyland's final season, nabbed two prominent awards in 2013. Cabrera won a second straight AL MVP after hitting .348 with 44 home runs and 137 RBIs, and star pitcher Max Scherzer won the AL Cy Young with a 21-3 record, 2.90 ERA and 240 strikeouts.

ALCS schedule 2024

Best-of-seven in ALCS, 2-3-2 format; *if necessary.

  • Game 1: Monday, Oct. 14: Tigers/Guardians at Royals/Yankees, time TBD, TBS

  • Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 15: Tigers/Guardians at Royals/Yankees, time TBD, TBS

  • Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 17: Royals/Yankees at Tigers/Guardians , time TBD, TBS

  • Game 4: Friday, Oct. 18: Royals/Yankees at Tigers/Guardians, time TBD, TBS

  • *Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 19: Royals/Yankees at Tigers/Guardians, time TBD, TBS

  • *Game 6: Monday, Oct. 21: Tigers/Guardians at Royals/Yankees, time TBD, TBS

  • *Game 7: Tuesday, Oct. 22: Tigers/Guardians at Royals/Yankees, time TBD, TBS

Jalen Williams is a reporting intern at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers vs Guardians: Detroit one win from first ALCS since 2013