Lane Thomas delivered a grand slam against Tarik Skubal, leading the Cleveland Guardians to a 7-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers in Game 5 of the AL Division Series. This win secures Cleveland's place in the AL Championship Series against the New York Yankees, a rematch from their previous postseason encounter in 2022.

Thomas contributed significantly with five RBIs, showcasing the Guardians' resilience under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. Despite not being favored to contend this season, Cleveland's unexpected success continues as they aim to break a World Series title drought dating back to 1948.

Skubal, a leading candidate for the AL Cy Young Award, struggled against the Guardians, allowing five runs in the fifth inning. The victory marks Cleveland's first ALCS appearance since 2016, while the Tigers, who made a remarkable late-season push, saw their campaign end in disappointment.