Home field advantage: The game is being played at Progressive Field in Cleveland, where the Guardians had a strong 50-30 regular season record.

Momentum: Cleveland just won Game 4 to force this decisive Game 5, potentially giving them momentum and confidence.

Pitching matchup: While Detroit has ace Tarik Skubal starting, Cleveland is countering with Matthew Boyd, who had a solid 2.72 ERA this season. The Guardians also have a "lockdown relief corps" that could be a factor.

Offensive potential: Cleveland's lineup has underperformed in the series (.214/.270/.336), suggesting they may be due for a breakout game.

Playoff experience: As the AL Central champions, Cleveland may have an edge in big-game experience over the upstart Tigers