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The Guardians' best chance in ALDS is to avoid Tarik Skubal in Game 5

ByVanessa

Oct 11, 2024 #Andrés, #Andrés Giménez, #Austin, #Austin Hedges, #Autopilot, #Baseball, #Brayan, #Brayan Rocchio, #Central, #Clase, #Cleveland, #Cleveland Guardians, #Content, #David, #David Fry, #Emmanuel, #Emmanuel Clase, #Facebook, #Facebook Autopilot via SND, #Fry, #Giménez, #Guardians, #Hedges, #Josh, #Josh Naylor, #Kwan, #MLB, #Naylor, #News, #North, #OH, #OH Content Sharing - Central Ohio, #OH Content Sharing - Northern Ohio, #OH Content Sharing - OH Pro Sports, #Ohio, #Overall, #Overall Positive, #Positive, #Pro, #Rocchio, #Share, #Sharing, #Skubal, #SND, #Sports, #Sports News, #Stephen, #Stephen Vogt, #Steven, #Steven Kwan, #Tarik, #Tarik Skubal, #Television, #via, #Vogt
The Guardians' best chance in ALDS is to avoid Tarik Skubal in Game 5

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CLEVELAND – The Guardians would be wise to win the next two games of the American League Division Series in Detroit, as a winner-take-all scenario Saturday at Progressive Field would set up another daunting matchup against Tigers ace Tarik Skubal require.

Facing Skubal this season is like challenging top player Mike Tyson to romp in a dark alley.

“This guy is the best pitcher on the planet right now, and he should probably get an award for that at the end of the year,” Guardians starting pitcher Matthew Boyd said.

AL Cy Young Award favorite Tarik Skubal lives up to the hype with the Detroit Tigers' 3-0 win over the Cleveland Guardians in ALDS Game 2

Skubal lived up to all the gargantuan expectations placed upon him on Monday as a presumptive AL Cy Young Award winner, and the Guardians fell 3-0 in their second home game. The best-of-five series is tied 1-1 and will take place at Comerica Park on Wednesday and Thursday for Games 3 and 4. Skubal would start Game 5 if there is one.

“He actually only uses three throws, but he has more than four throws,” Guardians catcher Austin Hedges said. “Everything has late action. He controls the ball well. This changeup is truly special as he throws hundreds with two different types of fastballs. There’s a reason he won the (pitching) Triple Crown this year.”

Skubal's dominance eclipsed a gem from his friend, mentor and former Tigers teammate Boyd, as well as two incredible defensive plays from the Guardians. Rookie right fielder Jhonkensy Noel struck out Justyn-Henry Malloy to prevent a possible double in the fifth inning, and left fielder Steven Kwan robbed Wenceel Perez of a clutch single in the eighth inning with a diving catch.

In Boyd's first career playoff start, he allowed no runs and four hits in 4⅔ innings, walking two and striking out five.

The Detroit Tigers made the Cleveland Guardians pay for a rare mistake by Emmanuel Clase in Game 2 of the American League Division Series

However, Skubal leaves his opponents only a razor-thin margin for error, and Cleveland's game-winning error came when Kerry Carpenter hit a two-out, three-run home run off closer Emmanuel Clase in the ninth inning.

This time Clase proved vulnerable. Meanwhile, Skubal maintained the aura of an invincible power.

“He was outstanding,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “He's been the best pitcher in the American League in terms of starts all year, and there's a reason for that. Both of his fastballs moved tremendously. He hit his spots, good sliders, good changeups, and he kept us off balance. He kept making throws and we weren’t getting much, if anything, to hit over the plate.”

En route to a shutout, Skubal allowed three hits, walked none, struck out a batter and struck out eight in seven innings. He had a perfect game until Guardians first baseman Josh Naylor hit a one-out double in the fifth inning. Skubal then hit Noel but escaped unscathed when second baseman Andres Gimenez grounded out on a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

The Guardians had runners on first and third base with one out in the sixth inning after shortstop Brayan Rocchio hit a double to left field and Kwan hit a single to left field. But designated hitter David Fry grounded in a 6-4-3 double play.

“He just throws strikes,” Fry said. “He commands the ball. Obviously he has a big fastball, but I think the most important thing is that he's in the zone all the time.”

Detroit Tigers star Tarik Skubal shows his intensity to Cleveland Guardians fans and praises them for the atmosphere at Progressive Field

Skubal did not hide his desire to compete. Video clips circulated on social media showing him gesturing toward the Cleveland crowd between innings and yelling a profanity as he left the field.

“I don't really know how I feel mentally in situations like this, but I probably shouldn't say bad words while the cameras are on me and the kids are watching,” he said. “But it was just emotions, raw emotions. First of all, the environment here was great. I think Cleveland fans, it was incredible to play in that environment, hostile, all that stuff that as a kid you dream about playing and pitching in front of.”

More Guardians vs. Tigers: Watch Cleveland's Steven Kwan make an incredible diving catch in ALDS Game 2

During the regular season, Skubal posted an 18-4 record with a 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts in 192 innings. His WHIP was 0.92. He also earned a win in Detroit's 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the Wild Card Series on October 1, allowing no runs, four hits, walking one and throwing six strikeouts. With his encore in Cleveland, he became the sixth pitcher in MLB history to record consecutive starts of six or more shutout innings, beginning a playoff career.

When asked to name the ingredients for Skubal's success, Boyd said, “It's his makeup, his work ethic and the way he runs his business.” He believes in his stuff and is right behind the guys here.”

Skubal and Boyd chatted before and after Game 2. They could duel again this weekend, although the Guardians' best bet would be to return from Detroit with validated AL Championship Series tickets.

Guardians vs. Tigers in Game 2 of ALDS: Watch Cleveland's Jhonkensy Noel knock down a Detroit baserunner with an elite throw

Nate Ulrich can be reached at [email protected]. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

By Vanessa

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