CLEVELAND, Ohio – It’s winner-take-all as the Cleveland Guardians host the Detroit Tigers in Game 3 of the AL Wild Card today – Thursday, Oct. 2 – at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. The game is available to watch on multiple streaming services for free.
How do I watch Guardians vs. Tigers AL Wild Card for free?
The game will broadcast live on ABC with the first pitch at 3:08 p.m. Eastern. Those who have cut the cable cord can catch the game at no cost by utilizing a free trial from DIRECTV, which is also offering $35 off your first month.
FuboTV also has a free trial and $30 off your first month.
The most flexible option is Sling TV, which now offers new users a Day Pass for $4.99, Weekend Pass for $9.99, Week Pass for $14.99, Monthly for $45.99 and Season Pass for $199.99 for five months and $45.99 per month thereafter.
This game is also available on the ESPN app streaming service, which now offers an Unlimited Plan for $29.99 per month (or $299.99 for entire year) and the Select Plan for $11.99 per month (or $119.99 for entire year). The ESPN app replicates its previous coverage of select games and broadcasts on ESPN Plus.
| Streaming service | Monthly Price | Free trial | Length | Discount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIRECTV | $74.99 | Yes | 5-day | $35 off first month |
| FuboTV | $64.99 | Yes | 5-day | $30 off first month |
| Sling TV | $4.99-19.99 | No | N/A | No |
| ESPN Streaming | $11.99 | No | N/A | No |
Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians rekindled some of their September magic as the offense awakened with five runs in the eighth to smash the Tigers, 6-1, in Game 2.
Rookie George Valera opened up the scoring with a solo shot in the bottom of the first inning, but the Guardians’ offense settled back into a familiar malaise.
Cleveland, which entered the postseason with the second-worst batting average this year, and the worst batting average in MLB postseason history (.226), mustered just four hits in the Game 1, and had just six total between both games heading into the eighth inning of Game 2.
Everything changed.
Brayan “Playoff” Rocchio once again emerged with the clutch play, blasting a solo home run that broke a 1-1 deadlock since the fourth inning. Bo Naylor iced the cake with a three-run home run, sending Progressive Field into pure jubilation.
After Tigers manager A.J. Hinch pulled starter Casey Mize after just three innings, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt followed suit as Tanner Bibee was plucked after 4 2/3 innings, initiating a bullpen game where the teams combined for nine additional pitchers.
Cleveland has won six of its last eight games against the Tigers.
Guardians players to watch
Jose Ramirez
Ramirez has a team-high 30 home runs and 85 RBI with a .283 batting average and .863 OPS. He has four hits in his last five games, including one RBI.
Brayan Rocchio
Rocchio delivered a September to remember with 20 hits, 12 runs, two home runs and 10 RBI. He has two home runs and five RBI in his last three games.
Steven Kwan
Kwan has 11 home runs and 56 RBI with a .272 batting average. He continues to struggle with two hits in his last five games.
Watch Guardians vs. Tigers AL Wild Card for free on DIRECTV
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers once again made history in the wrong direction. Detroit stranded a playoff-high 15 base runners, faltering on multiple chances to plate runs in the high-stakes matchup in Game 1.
Javier Baez tallied the only run for Detroit with an RBI single in the top of the fourth. Detroit finished with seven hits.
Detroit is 64-9 in games where they have more hits than their opponents. Cleveland has reached over six hits once in its last six games. The Guardians had exactly six hits in Game 2.
It will mark the 16th time these two teams have faced each other this season. The Guardians won the regular season series, 8-5, before dropping the playoff opener.
Tigers players to watch
Spencer Torkelson
Torkelson has notched 31 home runs and 78 RBI. He is batting .240 with a .789 OPS. Torkelson has three hits in his last five games, including one RBI.
Riley Greene
Greene has tallied 36 home runs and 111 RBI with a .258 batting average and .806 OPS. He has three hits in his last five games, including two doubles, one home run and one RBI.
Kerry Carpenter
Carpenter has 26 home runs and 62 RBI with a .252 batting average and .819 OPS. He has two hits in his last five games.
Watch Guardians vs. Tigers AL Wild Card for free on FuboTV
Today’s pitching matchup
CLE Slade Cecconi (7-7, 4.30 ERA) vs. DET Jack Flaherty (8-15, 4.64)
After a decent first campaign, Cecconi looks to make his mark with the season on the line. He has churned out some choppy starts, but has not allowed more than five hits in four consecutive appearances. The right-hander has 109 strikeouts and a 1.19 WHIP.
After a hefty workload the first two games, closer Cade Smith’s availability might be a concern. Hunter Gaddis, Tim Herrin and Zak Kent are ready to empty the tank.
Flaherty, a playoff veteran, has been unlucky this season. He has polished up his end of the diamond, allowing a combined nine earned runs in his last five starts. He only had one game over five hits in that span. The right-hander has 188 strikeouts and a 1.28 WHIP. He lost his final two outings of the regular season, both against the Guardians where his run support combined for one.
What are the latest odds for Guardians vs. Tigers AL Wild Card Game 3?
Spread: CLE: (+1.5), DET: (-1.5)
Moneyline: CLE: (+107), DET: (-107)
Run total: 7
Odds courtesy of DraftKings
Here’s more information on how to watch today’s Guardians vs. Tigers AL Wild Card game on TV and streaming services:
What: AL Wild Card Game 3: Cleveland Guardians vs. Detroit Tigers
When: Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025
Time: 3:08 p.m. Eastern
Where: Progressive Field | Cleveland, Ohio
Channel: ABC
Best streaming options: DIRECTV (free trial and $35 off first month), FuboTV (free trial and $30 off first month), Sling TV (half off first month and daily, weekend, weekly, monthly and season pass) and ESPN Streaming
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