CLEVELAND >> Lane Thomas hit a grand slam off Tarik Skubal and Cleveland beat the Detroit Tigers 7-3 on Saturday in Game 5 of their AL Division Series, moving the Guardians into another postseason matchup against the Yankees.

Cleveland will meet New York in the ALCS, setting up a series between two teams that have crossed paths six previous times in October. They last met in 2022, with the Yankees taking their ALDS in five games.

Game 1 is Monday in the Bronx.

Thomas had five RBIs for the Guardians, who weren’t expected to contend this season. But they won the tough AL Central under first-year manager Stephen Vogt, and Cleveland is still alive with a chance to end a World Series title drought stretching to 1948.

The Guardians had to take down Skubal, the front-runner for the AL Cy Young Award, to keep it going. The left-hander had not given up a run in 24 consecutive innings — 17 in this postseason — before the Guardians tagged him in the fifth for five runs, tying the most he allowed in 2024.

Pro football

Goodell: Holding a Super Bowl outside the US is a possibility >> The NFL’s aggressive international growth plan could include holding a Super Bowl outside the United States for the first time, Commissioner Roger Goodell said Saturday.

Goodell has shot down the idea in the past, but he told a fan forum in London that it’s a possibility.

Goodell floated the idea as he outlined a plan that could include playing 16 international games every year if the regular season expands to 18 games.

Jets QB Rodgers fine to play Monday night vs. Bills >> Aaron Rodgers is off the New York Jets’ injury report and will be back under center Monday night against the Buffalo Bills.

The quarterback was a full participant after being limited Thursday and Friday while dealing with a sprained ankle. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said earlier in the week Rodgers also had an issue with a hamstring.

Motor sports

Van Gisbergen sweeps Charlotte qualifying >> Shane Van Gisbergen completed a qualifying sweep by winning the pole for both the Xfinity Series and Cup Series races.

Van Gisbergen was racing for the Xfinity Series title but will run his 10th Cup Series race of the season Sunday when he competes on the hybrid road course/oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The New Zealander is not one of the 12 drivers trying to advance in the Cup Series championship race. But he beat all the contenders in a Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing to take the top starting spot for Sunday’s playoff elimination race.

Tyler Reddick, the regular season champion and a title contender, qualified second in a Toyota for 23XI Racing.

Sam Mayer later won the Xfinity race as Van Gisbergen finished third was eliminated from the playoffs.