As the autumn air settles over Progressive Field in Cleveland, the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians are locked in a high-stakes American League Wild Card series that’s as much about redemption as it is about baseball. For Tigers starter Casey Mize, Game 2 on October 1, 2025, isn’t just a playoff appearance—it’s a chance to rewrite a personal narrative that began with heartbreak on this very field a year ago.
Last October, Mize was left off Detroit’s postseason roster, a decision delivered in the shadows of the Guardians’ bullpen. "It fueled a lot of my offseason work and the things I wanted to do to get better to never let that happen again," Mize admitted, reflecting on the sting of rejection that propelled him through the winter. That pain, as it turns out, became the catalyst for a career-best season—one that saw him go 14-6 with a 3.87 ERA and a 1.268 WHIP, earning his first All-Star selection in his five-year MLB career.
Now, nearly a year to the day, Mize finds himself back in Cleveland, but this time, he’s not a spectator—he’s the Tigers’ trusted starter for Game 2, tasked with either keeping Detroit’s season alive or pitching them into the ALDS. "To have this opportunity a year later in this place is pretty cool for me. Just to see that full circle," Mize said. The irony isn’t lost on him, nor on manager A.J. Hinch, who joked about bringing Mize back to the same bullpen spot as last October, only this time with far better news.
The Tigers’ faith in Mize is well earned. He’s dominated Cleveland in 2025, boasting a 2.08 ERA over 17.1 innings in three starts against the Guardians. Hinch praised his starter’s growth, noting, "He has thrown the ball as well as he has at any point of the season right now, which is the perfect time." Mize himself credits his recent high-pressure outing in Boston—a six-and-a-third inning, two-run, eight-strikeout performance in a must-win game—for preparing him for the postseason spotlight. "It was the biggest game of my life at the time. The atmosphere was great. It felt similar to a postseason atmosphere, which was a good litmus test for me of how am I going to handle this," he said.
But the Guardians aren’t the same team Mize faced last October, either. Cleveland overcame a 15.5-game deficit to snatch the AL Central crown by a single game, powered by a relentless September surge that included five wins in six tries against Detroit. Their patient, grind-it-out approach at the plate has become a calling card. "They just know how to manufacture runs and don’t give up on an inning," Mize observed. "You got to get three outs with these guys. They can still do some stuff with two outs and manufacture a run and steal a run from you, it feels like at times."
That challenge has forced Mize to adapt. "You have to realize, ‘Hey, this lineup might be tougher to go punch out ten versus another one,’" he explained. "So we have to make decisions as a pitcher… are we just going to try to stay in the zone and get the swing and miss but also end the at-bat quicker… so you don’t have to throw 20, 25 pitches an inning against guys that are going to foul off pitches and get on base. This is a team that comes to mind. They’re tough to put away at times."
In the other dugout, Cleveland’s own transformation has been orchestrated by manager Stephen Vogt, whose adaptability and willingness to mix and match bench players has kept opponents guessing. Hinch acknowledged the chess match: "Their adaptability is one of their endearing qualities. They’re momentum-based. … I’ve never seen, I think, a bench with six left-handed hitters. So things like that that they’re willing to do to put a lot of pressure on our decisions in the back end of our bullpen that’s primarily right-handed."
For all the tactical maneuvering, individual matchups could tip the balance. Mize singled out José Ramírez as a particular challenge. "When people ask me who are some of the toughest players you’ve ever played against, José is one of the first two, three, four that comes out of my mouth. He’s such a talented guy all the way around. Steals bases, hits for power, plays excellent defense. It’s all there. And I know he’s a leader of that team, and he’s a constant. You think of Cleveland, you think of José. So it’s a tough challenge any time we get to play him."
The Tigers’ rotation for the series is set: Tarik Skubal, the ace, took the ball in Game 1 and delivered a 2-1 victory, giving Detroit a crucial edge in the best-of-three showdown. Jack Flaherty, the highest-paid pitcher in the organization and a 2024 World Series champion with the Dodgers, is lined up for a potential do-or-die Game 3. Flaherty’s season has been a rollercoaster—he lost a league-high 15 games with a 4.64 ERA, but his 3.85 FIP and 27.6% strikeout rate suggest he’s still capable of postseason heroics. His playoff history is checkered, though, with a 7.36 ERA over 22 innings in last year’s run.
Cleveland will counter with Tanner Bibee and Slade Cecconi. Bibee has been lights out against Detroit, posting a 0.95 ERA over 19 innings in three starts. Cecconi, meanwhile, allowed just three earned runs in two starts this year. The margin for error is razor thin.
Despite a September swoon—a 7-17 record, the worst ever by a postseason qualifier—Tigers fans have poured into Cleveland with optimism. Many, like Rhonda and Jason Mize, drove 11 hours from Alabama, undeterred by the team’s late-season struggles. "What an opportunity to be in that slump and still be here," Rhonda said. "That shows how good they have been all year." Fans from as far as Florida and Michigan have joined the pilgrimage, their spirits buoyed by the Game 1 win and the presence of their ace on the mound.
"We’ve got the captain on the mound," said lifelong fan Kip Gleckler before Game 1, echoing the confidence many feel in Skubal and Mize. Others, like Mark Shost and Len Harold, shrugged off the September losses. "It’s a new day," Harold said. "What happened?" Shost joked. "That’s behind us. We’re only looking forward."
As Game 2 looms, all eyes are on Mize—the pitcher who turned last year’s heartbreak into this year’s hope. The Guardians’ relentless offense and the Tigers’ emotional resurgence set the stage for a pivotal battle. Momentum in October is fleeting, and in a short series, every pitch matters.
With one win already in their pocket, Detroit stands just a game away from advancing. But as fans and players alike know, nothing in postseason baseball is guaranteed. The Tigers and Guardians are still locked in a tense dance, with Game 2 promising to be the fulcrum on which this wild card series turns.
