Guardians Win ALDS, Face Yankees in ALCS

Lane Thomas led the Cleveland Guardians to a 7-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers in Game 5 of the AL Division Series, securing their spot in the American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees. Thomas hit a decisive grand slam in the fifth inning off Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, who had previously pitched 17 scoreless innings in the postseason. The Guardians, under first-year manager Stephen Vogt, surprised many by winning the AL Central and now have a chance to end a World Series title drought dating back to 1948. Despite the Tigers' strong postseason run and Skubal's Cy Young-worthy season, their journey ended with this loss. The Guardians' bullpen, one of the best in MLB, managed to hold off the Tigers' late threats, with reliever Emmanuel Clase securing the win with a six-out save. The series sets up a highly anticipated matchup against the Yankees, starting Monday in New York.