There was no way of knowing how Game 3 of the Tigers and Guardians' Wild Card series would shake out through five innings. Things were tied at 1-1, and the Tigers were still leaving men on base and the Guardians were still not getting hits. Jack Flaherty gave Detroit 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball, but the leash was short, so he was pulled after walking a batter before being replaced by Kyle Finnegan.
The Tigers' first run of the game came on a Kerry Carpenter RBI double in the third. The Guardians responded with a José Ramírez single in the bottom of the fourth.