Detroit Tigers vs Cleveland Guardians Prediction, 10/2/2025 MLB Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Detroit Tigers vs Cleveland Guardians

Date: Thursday, October 2, 2025

Location: Progressive Field in Cleveland, OH

TV: ESPN

Odds/Point Spread: Detroit (+126) Cleveland (-152)

The Detroit Tigers (87-75) are en route to Progressive Field on Wednesday where they will go up against the Cleveland Guardians (88-74) in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card series. The odds on this game have the Tigers at +126 while the Guardians are coming in at -152. The over/under is set at 9. The pitchers taking the mound will be Jack Flaherty and Slade Cecconi.

As a squad, the Detroit Tigers are notching 4.7 runs/g, which has them at 11th in baseball. They have earned 758 runs scored and have an OBP of .316. The Tigers have recorded 244 two-baggers as a squad and have knocked 198 baseballs out of the stadium. They have accounted for 724 runs batted in in addition to 1,346 hits this season, and their average at the plate comes in at .247. Detroit is slugging .413 and have struck out 1,454 times, while drawing a walk on 511 occasions.

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They have accrued a K/BB ratio of 2.84 and their pitching staff holds a collective WHIP of 1.25. Tigers pitchers have surrendered 187 long balls in addition to 691 runs (16th in MLB). Detroit has allowed 1,309 hits (8.2 per 9 innings) and 630 earned runs. The Tigers have compiled a team earned run average of 3.95 over the course of the season (16th in MLB), and they have struck out 1,375 batters. They have walked 485 opposing batters and their FIP comes in at 4.05 as a unit over the course of the season.

The Tigers relief pitchers have compiled a save rate of 64.5% and stepped onto the hill in 142 save situations. The bullpen pitchers have inherited 258 runners this season and 28.7% of them ended up scoring. Tigers relief pitchers have entered the contest with runners on base 182 times as well as having 140 appearances in high leverage situations. The Tigers have dispatched 508 relief pitchers to the hill on the year. The relievers have accumulated 75 holds on the season (26th in MLB). They have 40 saves so far this year and have blown 22 of their 62 chances to save the game.

The Colorado Rockies have notched a total of 4,309 putouts this year, as well as 1,379 assists and 79 errors. Their fielding rate is currently at .986 which puts them in 14th in professional baseball, and they have turned 128 double plays. The Tigers have transformed 70.2% of balls hit into play into outs out of their 12,927 innings, which has them ranked 13th in baseball.

Flaherty has taken the hill for 990 frames and has earned 1,130 strikeouts in his MLB career. Flaherty (63-56 mark in his career) has earned a FIP of 3.74 while he has faced 4,120 batters in the majors. His ERA is 3.80 (418 ER's allowed) and he has a WHIP of 1.199. He has conceded 836 base hits (7.6 hits per nine innings) and has had 351 free passes.

Cleveland has a total of 168 home runs for the year and 621 RBIs. They have notched 243 doubles, while taking a walk 494 times and racking up 643 runs. The Cleveland Guardians have earned a team on-base percentage of .296 and a team batting average of .226 this season. The Guardians hold a team SLG% of .373 and they are earning 3.97 runs per contest (28th in baseball). They have been rung up on 1,344 occasions (18th in the league) and have earned 1,199 hits.

The Guardians have a team WHIP of 1.261 and are the owners of a FIP of 3.95 as a unit for the season. Their strikeout to walk ratio is 8.60 (1,381 strikeouts vs 527 walks). They have a ranking of 11th in baseball as a pitching staff in total hits conceded with 1,291. They have relinquished 169 home runs and they concede 4.05 runs per 9 innings (6th in the league). The Cleveland pitching staff have allowed 649 runs on the campaign while holding an ERA of 3.70 (593 earned runs conceded).

Sitting with 184 save situations, the Guardians have earned 112 holds in addition to 22 blown saves. Cleveland has called on relievers to step onto the mound in 69 save opportunities and they have come away with 47 saves. Their bullpen pitchers have stepped onto the hill 192 times in high leverage situations in addition to 151 occasions with runners on. Cleveland relievers have an inherited score rate of 32.5% of 209 inherited base runners. They rank 6th in the league with a save rate of 68.1%, and they have sent 531 relievers to the hill so far this season.

In 12,978 innings played, the Guardians have earned a defensive efficiency of 69.8% (17th in professional baseball). The Cleveland Guardians have turned 121 double plays and have notched a fielding percentage of .983 (27th in baseball). The Guardians have accrued 1,330 assists, 99 errors and are sitting with 4,326 putouts on the campaign.

Cecconi (9-15 career mark) has earned a 5.07 ERA and has surrendered 9.3 hits per nine innings. His K/BB ratio is 3.64 and he has faced 994 batters in his career. He has surrendered 133 ER's while earning a WHIP of 1.258 and a FIP of 5.0. So far in his pro baseball career, Cecconi has allowed 244 base knocks while tallying 193 K's in 236 innings pitched.

Who will win tonight's MLB game against the spread or moneyline?

Tony Sink's Pick: Take Detroit (+126)

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