Neighbors, AL Central rivals Tigers and Guardians meeting in October's postseason for first time

CLEVELAND (AP) — Midwest neighbors and mostly friendly division rivals, Detroit and Cleveland have played 2,326 times since their first game on May 3, 1901.

Never once have they met in the postseason in 123 years. That changes Saturday. It's finally happening.

“This will be the best commute in my playoff history,” joked Tigers manager A.J. Hinch, noting the short flight over Lake Erie. “Two proud cities in a great part of the country, more so in the summer than the winter. You’re going to see packed stadiums on both sides. It’s good for baseball.”

Welcome to the Surprise Series.

Two of three AL Central teams still alive — along with the big-bankroll New York Yankees — in these playoffs, the Tigers and Guardians, both of whom entered 2024 with modest expectations, will meet in Game 1 of the AL Division Series at Progressive Field in a matchup that didn't seem possible just weeks ago.

Cleveland will start Tanner Bibee in the opener while Hinch counters with Tyler Holton before turning it over to his bullpen and triggering "pitching chaos” as he calls the strategy that turned Detroit's season around.

When they last visited Progressive Field for a series in late July, the Tigers were five games under .500, 14 back of first-place Cleveland in the division and on the verge of making several trades that seemed to signal surrender.

From the outside, the outlook was gloomy.

But the Tigers had confidence in their roster, and energized by some minor leaguers and getting some key players healthy, they've become baseball's hottest — and most dangerous — team.

Detroit went 31-13 down the stretch to earn a wild-card spot before sweeping AL West champion Houston on its home field to advance.

Hinch smiled when asked if he could have imagined in July returning to Cleveland in October to play for a spot in the ALCS. He knew there was potential in his group, he just needed to find a way to tap into it.

“We believed in our talent. We believed in our young players,” he said. "We felt like we were getting better. A couple big wins here creates a little more belief, and then you win a tough series against playoff-caliber teams, and that creates even more belief.

"And you look up, and we were right in the thick of things as we got into the middle of September. Still, I thought a lot of people were wondering when was it going to fade, when was it going to fall off, when was it going to be a nice story but maybe not our time. But that was all outside our building.

“So we just kept at it and found ourselves in a really good position to make it to October and get to the first playoff series in a while.”

And now that they've made it this far, the Tigers don't want to stop.

Same goes for the Guardians, who have spent the past week resting up after clinching an unexpected No. 2 seed.

While the rest of baseball has been shocked by Detroit's late-season run, Cleveland's players could see the Tigers had something going. The Guardians won the season series 7-6, but were outscored.

“They played us tough all year and we were saying how good that team was," said catcher Austin Hedged. "To go 7-6 against them, especially at a time of the year when we were rolling through everybody. They were playing some of the toughest baseball against us. We knew how good they were. They just weren't finishing some games and then once they did, it showed.

"That's a real team.”

Still, as they've stacked wins, there have been moments in this startling surge when the Tigers have amazed themselves.

“Every game you feel like there’s something where you’re just looking to the guy next to you and you’re just like, ‘What the heck just happened?’" said reliever Will Vest. “That’s what’s so beautiful about baseball.”

OPENING JITTERS

Bibee faced the Tigers four times during the regular season. October is a whole new ballgame.

The right-hander will be making his postseason debut, and didn't hide that his stomach has been churning for days. Bibee said the anticipation and adrenaline didn't really kick in until the Tigers stunned the Astros.

“Once Detroit won that series, it was like, ‘oh, this is getting real,’” said Bibee, who went 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA against Detroit. “I’ve had butterflies ever since, and it’s really exciting. I’m excited to see the fans come, pack it out. I’m excited to feel the energy.”

LOOKING AHEAD

With a day off between Games 1 and 2, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt could change pitching plans depending on how things go in the opener.

Cleveland had baseball's best bullpen all season, and like Hinch, Vogt could use his relievers from start to finish. At this point, former Tigers left-hander Matthew Boyd is penciled in to start Game 2 on Monday.

Detroit's starter is a no-brainer: Tarik Skubal, who led the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts and could be a unanimous Cy Young winner.

GLOVE STORY

True to his name, Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows can cover some grass.

Meadows has made a knack of making big defensive plays, most recently racing back to take an extra-base hit away from Houston's Jeremy Peña in the ninth inning of Game 2.

“He’s a deer out there,” said Vest. ”Peña squared that ball up to center field. But literally, off the bat, I was like, he’s catching it."

It wasn't the first time Meadows' defense has saved the day.

“That guy’s a pitcher’s best friend,” Vest said. “I know double plays are supposed to be our best friend. Parker Meadows is our best friend. It’s good to have him back there.”

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Detroit Tigers' Joey Cora walks on the field during a baseball workout in Cleveland, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in preparation for the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch walks to the outfield during a baseball workout in Cleveland, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in preparation for the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

The Detroit Tigers run in from the outfield during a baseball workout in Cleveland, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in preparation for the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Detroit Tigers' Will Vest warms up during a baseball workout in Cleveland, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in preparation for the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Detroit Tigers' Wenceel Perez takes a drink during a baseball workout in Cleveland, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in preparation for the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Detroit Tigers' Colt Keith (33) throws during a baseball workout in Cleveland, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in preparation for the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch talks in the dugout during a baseball workout in Cleveland, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in preparation for the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

The Cleveland Guardians hold a baseball workout in Cleveland, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in preparation for the American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Andres Gimenez waits for his turn in the batting cage during a baseball workout in Cleveland, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in preparation for the American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Daniel Schneemann throws to first base during a baseball workout in Cleveland, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in preparation for the American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez, left, and David Fry, right, talk near the batting cage during a baseball workout in Cleveland, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in preparation for the American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Andres Gimenez waits for his turn in the batting cage during a baseball workout in Cleveland, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in preparation for the American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene stretches during a baseball workout in Cleveland, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in preparation for the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Josh Naylor, left, talks with teammates Jose Ramirez, center, and Austin Hedges, right, during a baseball workout in Cleveland, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in preparation for the American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Vice President Kamala Harris will visit the union stronghold of Flint, Michigan, on Friday as she battles with Donald Trump for working-class voters who could tip the scales in this year’s election.

Her appearance in the battleground state comes the day after U.S. dockworkers suspended their strike in hopes of reaching a new contract, sparing the country a damaging episode of labor unrest that could have rattled the economy.

Meanwhile, Trump is heading to Georgia to appear with Gov. Brian Kemp, the latest sign that he’s patched up his rocky relationship with the top Republican in a key battleground state.

Follow the AP’s Election 2024 coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024.

Here’s the latest:

MADISON, Wis. — A federal judge has ordered a small town in northern Wisconsin to offer disabled people accessible voting systems.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the Rusk County towns of Thornapple and Lawrence on Sept. 20 alleging that neither town had accessible voting systems for disabled people as required under federal law. Officials in both towns decided in 2023 to go to paper ballots only.

The lawsuit alleged that neither town had voting systems that disabled people could access as required under federal law for this year’s presidential primary on April 2 or for the Aug. 13 primary. Thornapple’s population is around 700 people and Lawrence is about 6,300 people.

U.S. District Judge James Peterson issued a preliminary injunction Friday that requires Thornapple officials to make sure every polling place in the Nov. 5 election has a voting system that disabled people can access. The systems must be plugged in, turned on and readily visible to voters, according to the order. The town also must post signs in every polling place alerting voters that the systems are ready for use.

The town’s attorney, Eric McLeod, didn’t immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment late Friday afternoon.

The Justice Department reached a settlement with Lawrence on Sept. 27 that calls for the town to make an accessible voting machine available at every polling place it operates in future federal elections and train staff on how to operate the equipment.

EVANS, Ga. — Former President Donald Trump and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp cemented their newfound alliance Friday in Georgia as they both praised citizens and first responders in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Trump and Kemp appeared in front of paper products, diapers and other relief supplies as they addressed reporters outside Augusta.

Trump, the 2024 GOP presidential nominee, said Kemp is doing a “fantastic job.” The GOP nominee again repeated his false assertions that President Joe Biden’s administration has not led a routine federal disaster response.

Trump mentioned the “big election” coming up and said if he wins Georgia will be treated well as it recovers.

Kemp and Trump spent several years at odds after the governor refused to help Trump overturn Biden’s 2020 victory. But they made up recently as part of Trump’s comeback effort and concerns among Republicans that the rift would help Democratic nominee Vice President Harris win the state.

President Joe Biden said Friday that he was confident the upcoming election would be free and fair - but he’s not sure it will be peaceful.

Biden made a surprise appearance in the White House press briefing room to discuss the strong jobs report that he called “incredible news,” and he took some questions. He was asked about how he was feeling about the upcoming election.

“I’m confident it will be free and fair. I don’t know whether it will be peaceful,” he said. “The things that Trump has said - and the the things that he said last time, when he didn’t like the outcome of the election -- were very dangerous.”

Trump still falsely claims the 2020 election was stolen.

Biden was also asked, as he left the room, whether he was going to reconsider running for president.

“I’m back in” he joked, and the reporters all laughed.

Election experts during a virtual panel held by the National Task Force on Election Crises on Friday acknowledged that western North Carolina officials are still in the early phases of assessing how hurricane damage will affect voting.

The process has been delayed with bridges and roads compromised and emergency crews still actively working to rescue stranded residents and provide people with basic supplies, said Robert Orr, a retired North Carolina Supreme Court Justice who co-leads the North Carolina Network for Fair, Safe and Secure Elections.

Paying for last-minute election changes could pose a challenge, Orr said. Most North Carolina election funding happens locally, and most county election budgets are already diminished because they had to reprint ballots to remove Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name, he said.

Most North Carolina residents are still focused on basic survival and recovery over voting, said Anne Tindall, special counsel of the nonprofit Protect Democracy.

Four people intentionally voted twice in Michigan’s summer primary election, the state attorney general said Friday as she announced felony charges against the suburban Detroit residents as well as public employees accused of enabling it to happen.

Attorney General Dana Nessel announced charges against the St. Clair Shores residents as well as three assistant clerks who are accused of enabling it to happen. Nessel called it “shocking and simply unheard of.” Nessel said four people who had already cast absentee ballots for the Aug. 6 primary showed up to vote in St. Clair Shores on the day of the election.

It’s possible to cancel an absentee ballot but not on Election Day.

The extra votes did not affect race results, she said.

Casey and Biden are allies and friends. Biden hasn’t done much campaigning since he left the 2024 race over the summer and Vice President Kamala Harris replaced him at the top of the ticket.

The president will also travel to Wisconsin where he’ll talk about efforts by his administration to replace lead pipes. That’s something Biden has continued to do — talk publicly about his administration’s successes and his record in office. He has told his team to “run through the tape.”

Elon Musk will join Donald Trump at his rally Saturday in Butler, the Pennsylvania city where the Republican presidential nominee survived an assassination attempt earlier this year.

“I will be there to support!” Musk wrote on his social platform X on Thursday in a retweet of Trump’s own promotion of the rally. The SpaceX and Tesla CEO will be among special guests in attendance, Trump’s campaign confirmed Friday.

The event will mark the first time the billionaire businessman appears publicly at a campaign event for the former president since endorsing him. Musk has supercharged his support for Trump in recent months and has become personally more invested in politics — even agreeing to lead a government efficiency commission if Trump wins reelection.

Saturday’s rally will take place at the same property where a gunman’s bullets grazed Trump’s right ear and killed his supporter, Corey Comperatore. The shooting left multiple others injured.

The Democratic presidential nominee has already been to Georgia, where she helped distribute meals and spoke with families in Augusta. More than 200 people died in the powerful storm that spread out across the Southeast, causing devastation. President Joe Biden, too, has traveled to areas hard-hit by the storm.

From Georgia, Harris said she and Biden have been paying attention “from the beginning to what we need to do to make sure the federal resources hit the ground as quickly as possible, and that includes what was necessary to make sure that we provided direct federal assistance. And that work has been happening.”

Their travel comes as Republican Donald Trump is falsely claiming the federal government wasn't doing enough to help affected people in Republican areas. Biden was angered by the suggestion, calling it a lie. He said partisan politics should not be part of this conversation.

Former President Barack Obama is planning to hit key swing states to boost Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign for the White House, starting on Thursday in Pittsburgh.

The Harris campaign says Obama will travel around the country over the final 27 days ahead of the election. It noted that the former president and Harris have a friendship that goes back 20 years, from when they first met while he was running for Senate.

Harris was also an early supporter of Obama’s 2008 presidential bid and knocked on doors for him in Iowa ahead of its caucus that led off voting in the Democratic primary.

In his speech at the Democratic convention in August, Obama said Harris “wasn’t born into privilege. She had to work for what she’s got.”

“And she actually cares about what other people are going through,” the former president added then.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump dances at a campaign event at the Ryder Center at Saginaw Valley State University, Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in University Center, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris waves as she arrives on Air Force Two at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus, Mich., Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)