MLB Playoff Bracket 2024: Tigers vs. Guardians ALDS Odds, Preview

The Detroit Tigers' magical postseason run continues in the ALDS against the Cleveland Guardians.

Detroit surprisingly swept the Houston Astros in the wild-card round to set up a match with its AL Central rival.

The Tigers have been one of the hottest teams in baseball since the MLB All-Star break, but the Guardians were one of the top sides all season.

Cleveland won the season series with the Tigers and it only lost one of the four series between the divisional rivals.

However, the two teams have not played since July 30 and a lot has changed since then with the Tigers.

ALDS Odds

Joe Sargent/MLB Photos via Getty Images

CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 28: José Ramírez #11 of the Cleveland Guardians rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning during the game between the Houston Astros and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Saturday, September 28, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Sargent/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.

To Win Series

Cleveland (-120; bet $120 to win $100)

Detroit (+100; bet $100 to win $100)

Tigers Looking to Continue Incredible Run

Alex Slitz/Getty Images

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 01: Tarik Skubal #29 of the Detroit Tigers delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros in the first inning during Game One of the Wild Card Series at Minute Maid Park on October 01, 2024 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

Detroit's remarkable run into the postseason and then the ALDS began shortly after its last regular-season meeting with the Guardians.

The Tigers went 10-3 in their final 13 regular-season contests to confirm their spot in the postseason, and the run did not stop once they reached the postseason.

Detroit stunned the Astros twice in the last two days in Houston to set up an improbable matchup with the Guardians.

The Saturday start of the ALDS also allows the Tigers to be as competitive as possible with their pitching rotation.

There's a chance AL Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal pitches in Game 1, and if not, he will certainly be ready for Monday's Game 2.

Skubal was the only Tigers pitcher to throw more than 120 innings in the regular season, so it will be all hands on deck outside of the games he does not start.

Detroit went with a bullpen game in the clincher against the Astros. It could use Kenta Maeda, Reese Olson, Casey Mize or Keider Montero as traditional starters in the series.

A.J. Hinch could also choose to go with the approach that got the Tigers to this point in the first place, which is an everyone is available strategy.

Whether that strategy is sustainable in a best-of-five game series remains to be seen, but the Tigers have been winning like that for over a month.

Offensively, the Tigers have to perform better against the Guardians. They only scored four runs twice in their six meetings with Cleveland in July.

The best offensive approach will be to get after Cleveland's starters since the bullpen, led by closer Emmanuel Clase, is one of the best in baseball.

Cleveland Looking to Get to First ALCS Since 2016

Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

CLEVELAND, OH - SEPTEMBER 24: Cleveland Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor (22) singles to right during the first inning of the Major League Baseball Interleague game between the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians on September 24, 2024, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH. (Photo by Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Cleveland was the class of a loaded AL Central for most of the regular season.

The Guardians' biggest strength is their bullpen, led by Clase, who has 47 saves and a 0.71 ERA.

Hunter Gaddis, Cade Smith, Tim Herrin and Eli Morgan all have ERAs under two as well in the Cleveland bullpen.

The pitching strategy is clear for Tanner Bibee and the other starters. Bibee, who starts Game 1 on Saturday, just needs to get through five, or maybe six, innings before the bullpen takes over.

Cleveland's overall lineup should be viewed in a better light than Detroit. Jose Ramirez was a home run away from a 40-40 season. He also had 39 doubles and 119 RBI.

Steven Kwan and Andres Gimenez are the tone-setters at the top of the lineup, and if the Tigers avoid Ramirez, Josh Naylor is behind him in the lineup to drive runners in. Naylor hit 31 homers and drove in 108 runs.

Cleveland put up at least five runs on the Tigers in five of the seven wins it had against Detroit in the regular season.

The Guardians will be expected to put up similar totals at home in Games 1 and 2, but they do have to deal with the week-long rest they earned through the No. 2 seed in the American League.

A year ago, the No. 1 and 2 seeds combined to score 10 runs in Game 1 of the ALDS and NLDS. Houston accounted for six of those on its own.

On paper, the Guardians have an easy path to their first ALCS appearance since 2016, especially with the Astros out of the way, but they have to be wary of the threat posed by the Tigers.

Gambling problem? Call (877-8-HOPENY) or text HOPENY (467369).

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL/IN/MI/NJ/PA/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO/NH), 888-789-7777/visiting ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), 1-877-770-STOP (7867) (LA), visiting OPGR.org (OR), or calling/texting TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) or 1-888-532-3500 (VA).

Odds and lines subject to change. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/LA/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for full terms and conditions.