Guardians Are Drawing Big Crowds For Tigers Series

The Cleveland Guardians got their big weekend off to a great start with a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Friday. Tarik Skubal looms on Saturday in what should be a major test, and if the Guardians’ offense can snap out of their slump against the two-time reigning Cy Young winner, it will go a long way toward helping push this team back into first place in the AL Central.

Detroit may be falling on hard times this year, but this is still a huge series for both teams. Cleveland is fighting to get back into first place and the Tigers are desperate to fall even deeper into the cellar of the American League. Things look a lot different than last year’s exhilarating battle down the stretch for the division before they met in the Wild Card round, but it’s clear there is an intense feeling in the air.

The fans know it too as Daryl Ruiter of 92.3 The Fan pointed out. Ruiter shared that there was quite a crowd on hand for the series opener.

“35,427 on hand tonight for fireworks… and the #Tigers. 3rd sellout of the season. Over 30,000 expected Saturday afternoon as well #Guardians,” said Ruiter.

35,427 on hand tonight for fireworks… and the #Tigers. 3rd sellout of the season. Over 30,000 expected Saturday afternoon as well #Guardians

— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) June 13, 2026

It’s always a fun setting when you have these two teams in a weekend series with some great pitchers on the mound. The pressure is mounting for the Tigers, as they are now 0-5 against the Guardians this season and have scored just ten runs in those five games.

If the Tigers can’t take Cleveland down with Skubal on the mound, it will continue to send them down a bad path, and at the end of that path likely lies the unfortunate reality that Skubal could get traded at the deadline. If the Guardians can help guide them down that path, it would certainly make winning the AL Central a little bit easier over the next few years.

If there were ever a time for the bats to get hot again, it would be on Saturday. Hopefully all 30,000+ Guardians fans can will their team to a big performance against Skubal.