Should Detroit Tigers worry about Cleveland Guardians in AL Central?
On “Days of Roar,” Cleveland Guardians beat writer Paul Hoynes checks in about the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central race with two weeks remaining.
The Detroit Tigers were swept by the Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park, finishing the series with a 3-1 loss on Thursday.Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal allowed just one run in six innings but left with the score tied, 1-1.Rookie right-hander Troy Melton gave up a two-run homer to Cleveland slugger José RamÃrez in the seventh inning.
It was an instant classic between American League Central rivals with postseason implications Thursday, Sept. 18, in the finale of a three-game series at Comerica Park.
Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Guardians.
Tarik Skubal vs. Tanner Bibee.
Seven-time All-Star José RamÃrez — the most underrated superstar in baseball — made the difference for the Guardians with a big swing in the seventh inning, hitting a two-run home run off right-handed reliever Troy Melton.
The Tigers lost, 3-1.
Not only did the Tigers (85-68) lose, but they were swept by the Guardians (81-71) — dropping their lead in the AL Central to 3½ games with nine games remaining, including three more against the Guardians. The 3½-game lead is the Tigers’ smallest since May 24.
Looking ahead, the Tigers open a three-game series at 6:40 p.m. Friday (FanDuel Sports Network Detroit) against the Atlanta Braves at Comerica Park, with the star-studded Braves riding a five-game winning streak.
The Tigers have lost 15 of 22 games, including six of their last seven games, while the Guardians have won 12 of 13.
In the sixth inning, the Tigers replaced Skubal after 102 pitches with Melton as the top of the Guardians’ batting order was due up: Steven Kwan, Angel MartÃnez and RamÃrez.
The Tigers and Guardians were tied, 1-1.
After Kwan lined out, MartÃnez walked on five pitches to create a game-changing opportunity for RamÃrez, who pushed Melton’s middle-down cutter into the first row of seats in right field.
The two-run home run put the Guardians ahead, 3-1.
RamÃrez, hitting .282 with an .860 OPS, has produced 29 home runs in 148 games in 2025, along with 284 homers in his 13-year MLB career, spanning 1,599 games. The homer was the 35th of his career against the Tigers — the most of any active player against the Tigers.
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Tarik Skubal sets personal strikeout record
Skubal — the 2024 AL Cy Young winner and 2025 AL Cy Young favorite — allowed one run on seven hits and two walks with nine strikeouts across six innings, throwing 102 pitches.
The 28-year-old left-hander stranded a runner on third base in the sixth inning by striking out Nolan Jones swinging with a 99.5 mph fastball. His fastball averaged 98.5 mph, but it maxed out at 101.5 mph on a strikeout of David Fry to end the fifth inning.
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The six-year MLB veteran recorded a milestone strikeout in the fourth inning, with Brayan Rocchio whiffing on a slider at the bottom of the strike zone. The strikeout marked Skubal’s 229th, setting a new career high for a single season.
In 2024, Skubal produced 228 strikeouts across 192 innings in 31 starts. In 2025, he has generated 233 strikeouts over 189â…“ innings in 30 starts.
Before the milestone strikeout, Skubal gave up a solo home run to Jhonkensy Noel — nicknamed “Big Christmas” — on a two-strike changeup with one out in the fourth inning.
The homer tied the game, 1-1.
Aside from Noel’s homer, Skubal was nearly unstoppable against the Guardians. He stranded two runners in both the first and second innings.
Skubal owns a 2.23 ERA in 30 starts.
Tanner Bibee keeps Guardians alive
As Skubal shoved, Bibee did the same for the Guardians.
The 26-year-old right-hander — who has a 4.34 ERA in 30 starts — allowed one run on four hits and two walks with eight strikeouts across six innings, throwing 100 pitches.
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, thanks to three hits in a row from Spencer Torkelson (double), Wenceel Pérez (single) and Colt Keith (RBI double).
After Keith’s double, the Tigers had two runners in scoring position with no outs, but Dillon Dingler grounded into a fielder’s choice out at home plate, followed by Zach McKinstry’s strikeout and Parker Meadows’ lineout.
It was a missed opportunity to score more runs. After the inning, Keith exited the game with low back tightness.
Bibee allowed just two baserunners in his final four innings: Gleyber Torres’ leadoff single in the third and Meadows’ walk in the fifth. After Meadows walked, he stole second base on Torres’ strikeout to advance into scoring position, but Kerry Carpenter struck out to end the fifth.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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