DETROIT — Tarik Skubal has already yanked the chain of the Guardians and their fans once. He may get a chance to do it again, too.
On Monday, in the second game of of the American League Division Series at Progressive Field, Skubal walked off the mound in the sixth inning after getting out of a jam when David Fry bounced into a 6-4-3 doubl play. The game, won by the Tigers on Kerry Carpenter’s three-run homer in the ninth, was still scoreless.
The soldout crowd jeered him as he headed to the Tiger dugout. Skubal welcomed the boos, spreading his arms to take them all in.
“I don’t really know where I was at mentally,” said Skubal after the game. “But I probably shouldn’t say some bad words with some cameras on me with kids watching, but it was just emotion, raw emotion.”
He complimented Guardians fans for their passion in the first two games of the best-of-five series.
“The environment here, first off, was great,” said Skubal. “I think Cleveland fans, this environment was incredible to play in. Hostile, all that stuff that as a kid you dream of playing and pitching in front of. So, yeah, it was kind of both those things, I guess.”
The series, tied at 1-1, has moved to Detroit and Comerica Park. Game 3 is today at 3:08 p.m. Should the series return to Cleveland for a fifth game, Skubal would be in line for the start on regular rest.
Skubal went 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA in 31 starts during the regular season. In two starts this postseason he has not allowed a run in 13 innings with 14 strikeouts. Skubal beat Houston in Game 1 of the wild card series and threw seven scoreless innings against the Guardians in Game 2 of the ALDS in a no decision.
“He is the best pitcher on the planet right now,” said Guardians lefty Matt Boyd, a former teammate.
As for exactly what he was thinking when he opened his arms to Guardians fans, Skubal said, ” I’ll be honest, I don’t know what that was. I don’t know what that was. Never done that before in my life.”
Guardians fans would be well served if they don’t have to sit through a repeat in Game 5. In other words, take care of business in Games 3 and 4.
Trivia time
If you’re in Detroit, you have to do what Detroiters do, right? According to Google, the Motor City doesn’t have a favorite breakfast dish, but it does have the “Coney Island’ hot dog. A hot dog loaded with chili, mustard and onions often serves as a breakfast stable. While you’re preparing for the Coney Island, try this on for size, how many intentional walks has Jose Ramirez drawn in the last three years? Anser below.
Postseason schedule
The Guardians will play Game 3 of the ALDS on Wednesday at 3:08 p.m. Here is the updated schedule for times and TV broadcasts.
What’s next?
Wednesday: Game 3 between Tigers and Guardians at 3:08 p.m. The Guardians will start RHP Alex Cobb, who will make his first appearance since beating the Pirates on Sept. 1. The Tigers have yet to announce their starter.
Thurday: Game 4 between the Tigers and Guardians will be at 6:08 p.m. at Comerica Park. TBS, WTAM, WMMS and the Guardians radio network will carry the game. Game 1 starter Tanner Bibee is in line to start the game, but manager Stephen Vogt said Tuesday that a decision had not been made.
Trivia answer: Jose Ramirez has been intentionally walked 54 times in the last three years. In 2022 and 2023, he led the big leagues with 20 and 22 intentional walks, respectively. He was intentionally walked 12 times this year.
