Tigers fall too Guardians, raising questions in AL Central race
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 Ramírez – perhaps 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.
Story Highlights:
* 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 Ramírez in the seventh inning.
## 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.
*Junfu Han,Detroit Free Press*
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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 189 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 f