Tigers' Tarik Skubal looks to hand Guardians 10th straight loss
Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal's quest for a second straight American League Cy Young Award continues Sunday, when Detroit wraps up a three-game series at the Cleveland Guardians.
Skubal (10-2, 2.15 ERA) takes on Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams (5-4, 3.86) in what is forecast to be one of the hottest days of the year in Northeast Ohio with temperatures at the ballpark in the mid-90s.
The Tigers won the opener 2-1 on homers from Wenceel Perez and Zach McKinstry, then squeaked out a 1-0 victory Saturday, thanks to a solo shot from Spencer Torkelson.
American League-leading Detroit managed just two hits in the second win -- both by Torkelson -- while sending Cleveland to its season-high ninth consecutive loss.
'We won the series, so we don't care how explosive we are or how we do it, especially within the division,' Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. 'Tork is going to try to do damage every time he takes a swing, and he's doing it. It's hard to argue with his approach.'
Skubal has made nine regular-season starts against Cleveland, compiling a 3-2 record and 2.84 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings. He also went 0-1 with a 3.46 ERA in two road appearances against the Guardians during the 2024 AL Division Series.
Detroit starter Reese Olson gave up a home run to Jose Ramirez in his 4 1/3 innings pitched Friday, while fellow righty Casey Mize didn't permit a baserunner past second base Saturday in arguably his best performance in the majors.
Mize tossed seven scoreless innings for the initial time in his career, scattering four hits over a season-high 102 pitches. He stands a strong chance at being named to the All-Star Game when reserves and pitchers are announced following the series finale.
'In a tight game like this, you feel like you really need to buckle down,' said Mize, who is 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA against Cleveland this season. 'It's not the best situation to be in, but I kind of like them, to be honest.
'I know if the matchup is there, A.J. is going to give me the chance to stay in and succeed.'
Williams will face the Tigers for the fifth time in his three seasons, posting a 1-2 record and 2.53 ERA over his first four starts against the Central Division rival.
Nothing has gone right for the Guardians since June 25, when they beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 in 10 innings. They've been outscored 41-13 and have been blanked five times in their nine consecutive defeats.
Even a combined two-hitter Saturday by Logan Allen, Cade Smith, Paul Sewald and Tim Herrin wasn't enough to end the skid.
'It's going to pay off and we're going to see ourselves in a great spot at the end of the season,' Cleveland pitcher Slade Cecconi said. 'I fully believe that.'
The best news for the Guardians came before the game Saturday, when former AL Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber threw batting practice. The right-hander could rejoin the rotation in late July following Tommy John surgery.
'In regards to how my arm felt, I'm really happy with how it went,' Bieber said. 'But as a competitor, I just kind of got tired and threw a few more balls than I would have liked. Now, I can focus on how I can get better for my next live BP.'
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