Chasing October: Wild-card series live analysis for every Game 2

theScore provides running analysis and insights throughout the 2025 MLB wild-card series, continuing Wednesday and running through Thursday if necessary. Keep checking back for updates as the opening round unfolds and check out our Game 1 takeaways here.

Final: The Guardians didn't make it easy behind Cade Smith, with sure-handed Rocchio making a key error to load the bases with two outs. Nevertheless, Cleveland forces a Game 3. Here's how the bullpens look heading into the decisive contest, with pitches thrown per game. Smith, Gaddis, and Erik Sabrowski will likely only be available for Cleveland under the most dire circumstances. The Tigers' situation is a lot more favorable:

Guardians

Tigers

8th inning: Those left-handed hitters finally pay dividends for Vogt's Guardians. Switch-hitter Brayan Rocchio hits the first go-ahead homer in the eighth inning or later of an elimination game in Cleveland history. Lefty Steven Kwan follows that up with a double and then fellow left-hander Daniel Schneemann cashes in Kwan with a double of his own. After putting José Ramírez on via intentional walk, A.J. Hinch is forced to go back to another southpaw pitcher - Brant Hurter - to face Manzardo. The Tigers now only have righties remaining in the 'pen. And it might not matter. Naylor, another lefty, takes Hurter deep for a three-run shot. It's 6-1. This series is likely going the distance. Advantage: Vogt in the managerial chess game unfolding in Game 2.

7th inning: In the latest edition of "Are the Hitters Bad or Are the Pitchers Good? The AL Central Story": Gaddis, who worked yesterday, puts runners on the corners to start the seventh, and Tim Herrin gets him out of the jam by striking out Jahmai Jones and Wenceel Pérez. On the other side of the ball, Kyle Finnegan, working into his second inning, very easily retires Naylor, Gabriel Arias, and DeLauter. The good news for viewers: One of these teams does have to score another run eventually.

6th inning: The offense has really quieted down. The Guardians, looking to stave off elimination, have one hit since the Valera homer. The Tigers have gotten their fair share of baserunners but have stranded nine of them. The interesting thing to watch as the game progresses is that Guardians manager Stephen Vogt decided to keep almost all of his left-handed starters in the lineup against southpaw Tyler Holton, who relieved Mize to start the fifth. In order for the gamble to work, those lefty hitters (Manzardo, Bo Naylor, DeLauter, C.J. Kayfus) have to make the right-handed bullpen arms pay later.

4th inning: The redemption season for Javier Báez continues as the free-swinging Gold Glover comes up with the bases juiced and delivers. He initially appears to give the Tigers the lead by plating a couple, but a lengthy review rules that Zach McKinstry is out at third base. It's a very close call. Báez's RBI single still ties it up 1-1. Originally called safe by third base umpire Stu Scheurwater ... you decide:

1st inning: So, the AL Central can hit homers? With Tigers-Guardians into its 10th inning, George Valera delivers the series' first dinger. Valera only figured into 16 games for the Guardians this year, but the 24-year-old rookie performed well, hitting two homers. He swings hard, resulting in whiffs, but he can also work walks thanks to a pretty advanced plate approach. Detroit starter Casey Mize, a former first overall pick, had the best season of his career, but he simply isn't Tarik Skubal. He gives up another loud but ultimately harmless fly ball to Kyle Manzardo to end the inning. Skubal never gave up those hard-hit balls to these batters.

1st inning: We have our first DeLauter appearance. It's a rough one for the rookie, who lost a fly ball in the sun. Should've been a can of corn. Instead, it keeps the inning going for Bibee. Lucky for DeLauter, the pitcher bounced back to strike out Kerry Carpenter, Spencer Torkelson, and Riley Greene, stranding a pair in a scoreless first frame.

1st inning: The Tigers look to end the Guardians' season. Two players to watch will be Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee and outfield prospect Chase DeLauter, who's making his MLB debut. DeLauter was the 16th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. He's the 13th first-rounder from that draft to make it to the bigs already, most notably joining Jackson Holliday and Zach Neto.

4th inning: Mike Shildt is certainly managing this like an elimination game. San Diego's manager had Adrian Morejon temporarily warming up in the third inning and opted to pinch hit Jose Iglesias for Gavin Sheets with two on and one out in the fourth. Iglesias flew out to center field, and the Padres failed to score in the frame, as they cling to a 1-0 lead. Iglesias was then removed defensively for Bryce Johnson. Shildt doesn't have many options on his bench late in the game (Martin Maldonado, Luis Campusano, Mason McCoy), as the club opted to carry three catchers this series.

1st inning: The Padres strike early for a second straight game. They'll hope it won't be their only run like it was in Game 1. One day after San Diego's first three hitters went 0-for-11, the top of the lineup gets things going as Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Arraez lead off the afternoon with back-to-back singles. Then they team up for a double steal that pays off when Jackson Merrill drives Tatis in with a sac fly to open the scoring. The Cubs opted to open the game with Andrew Kittredge, who threw 14 pitches in the eighth inning of Game 1. Shota Imanaga took over in the second inning.