'A lot of motivation' propels Skubal into rematch vs. Guardians

DETROIT -- The last time Tarik Skubal faced the Guardians, he was the focal point of a party at Progressive Field. Lane Thomas’ grand slam had not only powered Cleveland to a victory in Game 5 of the American League Division Series and a berth in the ALCS, it had punched a hole in the aura around Skubal and his postseason dominance. The fans, some of whom had a back-and-forth with Skubal after his dominant performance in Game 2 of the series, serenaded him off in Game 5.

The game lingered in Skubal’s mind. It motivated him in an offseason that included the awards circuit and celebrity status at sporting events around Michigan. But it doesn’t haunt him.

“I think whenever you fail in this game, it's motivation, right,” Skubal said Saturday afternoon. “There's only one happy team at the end of the year. Yeah, you use those things to fuel you. It's not like there's anything personal against this team. It's just we didn't win the World Series. That's pretty simple. There's a lot of motivation to get back to that point.”

As Skubal prepares to meet the Guardians on Sunday morning for the first time since that chilly October afternoon, he doesn’t have a season riding on his mighty left arm. But it’s not a meaningless start, either. The Tigers have lost three in a row in their four-game series at Comerica Park, including Saturday’s 7-5 loss in 10 innings. It’s their first three-game losing streak since they were swept at Dodger Stadium to open the season. Detroit hasn’t lost four straight since a five-game skid around last July’s Trade Deadline that included two games to Cleveland at Comerica Park.

The Tigers will lead the AL Central by at least two games going into Memorial Day, no matter what happens Sunday. But the past few games have shown why the Guardians, the defending division champions, remain a formidable presence in the Central. They’re tough to beat when they’re on, even after a three-run first inning put the Tigers in front Saturday for Casey Mize’s return from the injured list. Detroit didn’t score again until Gleyber Torres’ two-run double in the 10th inning that halved Cleveland’s lead and brought the tying run to the plate against Emmanuel Clase.

From the moment the Guardians brought Lane Thomas back from the injured list Thursday, the potential rematch between him and Skubal has loomed. Skubal, for his part, made his peace with it a while back.

“I relived that at-bat and took myself through my kind of mental process,” Skubal said. “I was bought in on that pitch, and it just so happened to not go where I wanted it to. And that happens a lot. It is what it is. We fought back and tried to come back in that game and didn't. I'd say our team's off to a pretty good start considering that, too. …

“There's nothing personal to it. It's baseball; two guys competing at the highest level. There's no story to be made about that in my eyes.”

The Guardians have been at their pesky best against Tigers pitching all series. Their first seven hits Saturday, including all four off Mize, came in two-strike counts, as did their two key RBI doubles in the 10th inning off Brenan Hanifee.

They’re tough to finish off. Now comes a rematch with Skubal, who led the Majors with 228 strikeouts last season and has an AL-best strikeout rate of 11.9 per nine innings this season. Opponents are batting just .167 (23-for-138) with one extra-base hit in two-strike counts against Skubal in 2025.

Only one of Skubal’s 10 starts this year has come against a division rival, an April 20 no-decision against the Royals at Comerica Park.

“I still think all division games matter,” Skubal said. “I think that there is some familiarity there, whether it be the Guardians, whether it be the Royals, Sox or Twins. I think those series are always a little bit different than most series because you know each other quite well. It's not just like a National League team where you see them for a few games and you don't see them again until the World Series.”

That familiarity, Skubal said, works both ways. Cleveland's hitters know him, but he knows what to look for from them. He’ll have help from catcher Dillon Dingler, whose game-calling and planning skills have earned Skubal’s trust.

It won’t be a grudge match. But in its own way, Sunday will be big for both sides.