A battle of AL Central teams has turned into a best-of-three series after the Tigers knotted the series at one game apiece behind another Tarik Skubal gem.
The AL Cy Young favorite dazzled, allowing only three hits with seven strikeouts and no walks. Still, it took until the ninth inning to break a scoreless tie as Kerry Carpenter launched a three-run home run off Emmanuel Clase. It was the first homer he allowed to a lefty since July of 2023.
The series now heads to Detroit, where Alex Cobb will take the bump for Cleveland. However, whoever takes the mound for Detroit is anyone’s guess. The Tigers have been unconventional this year, often opting to use openers followed by bulk relievers.
A Detroit team that stunned the baseball world by making the postseason is now a narrow favorite after stealing home field advantage. The Tigers are -115, while the Guardians are -105.
