DETROIT (AP) — The Motor City hasn’t hosted a playoff baseball game in a decade.

The long wait is almost over.

The Detroit Tigers will play the Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday in an even best-of-five AL Division Series at one game apiece, ending a drought that has lasted since 2014.

“There’s a whole generation of kids here who haven’t seen postseason baseball live,” Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris said Tuesday. “Hopefully they’re loud from the very first note. I’ve seen the fans help us win games and I’m really excited to see what they can do.”

The Guardians have a player making a long-awaited return to the postseason.

Alex Cobb last appeared in the playoffs in 2013 when he started two games for Tampa Bay, a wild-card win against Cleveland and a Division Series loss to Boston.

The 37-year-old right-hander underwent hip surgery on October 31 and had not yet returned to the mound when he was acquired from San Francisco at the July 30 trade deadline.

The 2023 All-Star made his season debut on August 9 and was sidelined after two games with a torn nail on his right index finger. He did not allow an earned run over six innings in his return on September 1 against Pittsburgh, then returned to the injured list with a blister on his right middle finger, ending his regular season. He was 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA in three games and 16 1/3 innings with the Guardians.

“There’s probably no one in these playoffs that appreciates it more than me after not playing in this for so long,” Cobb said.

He prepared for the playoffs with a few simulated games.

“I lived and died on every pitch of those two sim games to give them the confidence that I was ready,” Cobb said.

Cobb pitched for his fifth Major League team and said he’s ready for the challenge and the opportunity.

“I think having the type of team we have gives you a little bit more confidence,” he said. “We have the best defense in baseball, the best bullpen in baseball.”

Detroit evened the series Monday when Kerry Carpenter hit a three-run homer in the ninth off All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase for a 3-0 victory against the AL Central champions.

Tigers manager AJ Hinch plans to use many pitchers for an inning or so on Wednesday, having done so twice in the playoffs and in a slew of games in the regular season. After trading pitchers Jack Flaherty and Andrew Chafin at the deadline along with outfielder Mark Canha in what appeared to be moves that pointed to the future, the Tigers went on a 31-13 run to earn a wild card.

Detroit used seven pitchers to eliminate AL West champion Houston to complete a two-game wild card sweep for its first postseason series victory since 2013, then had five on the mound as they won Saturday’s Division Series lost the opener 7-0.

“We don’t really call them bullpen days,” Harris said. “We have tried to find a strategy that fits our pitching staff and if you look at this pitching staff now, we have been in the material and depth for quite a long time and have little experience.

“By taking a non-traditional approach to pitching, many young pitchers can adapt more quickly to playing at this level. It also took some pressure off some of our young starters by having them come out of the bullpen. And it gives AJ the opportunity to remain a bit more unpredictable for the opponents.”

Hinch did not announce who will start for Detroit, but said he planned to inform the Guardians at the end of their practice on Tuesday.

“We’re obviously planning a starter, and then you kind of get a feel for it the second and third time,” Cleveland All-Star outfielder Steven Kwan said. “But because it’s a new arm every time, it’s different.”

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