The Cleveland Guardians and the Detroit Tigers have played an intense, closely-contested American League Division Series to this point.
As of Saturday morning, it’s the only matchup that hasn’t been decided yet.
That will end on Saturday afternoon, when both teams take Progressive Field starting at 1:08 pm ET.
The two squads are tied at two victories apiece: whoever wins today will earn the right to face the New York Yankees in the AL Championship Series.
The loser will go home with their hands empty.
Progressive Field is expected to be packed, full of eager fans waiting to have something to celebrate.
It will be an all-Guardians party.
In fact, the ceremonial first pitch will be in charge of two Guardians Legends currently on the injured list.
“Carlos Carrasco will throw out the first pitch to Shane Bieber before Game 5 tomorrow,” team insider Mandy Bell posted on X.
Carlos Carrasco will throw out the first pitch to Shane Bieber before Game 5 tomorrow.
— Mandy Bell (@MandyBell02) October 11, 2024
Bieber, the best and most consistent Guardians pitcher since the late 2010s, won the AL Cy Young award in 2020 in a Guardians uniform.
He would love to be pitching in front of his people, but blew out his elbow earlier this season after 12 brilliant, scoreless innings.
Carrasco was trying to overcome a hip strain but was eventually designated for assignment and sent to the minor leagues.
He pitched for the Guards from 2009 to 2020, and then again this year.
He has a lifetime 3.91 ERA with Cleveland and was a stalwart in those great rotations of last decade.
Both will have a chance to be involved in the first pitch prior to the start of the game, of course greeting the fans and absorbing the applauses.
NEXT: Guardians Star Shows Confidence Before Crucial Game 5 Against Tigers Ace
