Slade Cecconi threw six strong innings Friday night as the Guardians beat the AL Central-leading Tigers, 3-1, at Comerica Park. It was their second straight win over the Tigers as they pulled to within four games of first place.

Cleveland Guardians first baseman Carlos Santana was scratched from the lineup against the Detroit Tigers with tightness in his left leg.

Detroit Tigers right-hander Casey Mize has a 2.53 ERA across seven starts to lead the starting rotation, even better than Tarik Skubal's 2.87 ERA.

The Guardians brought the rain with them from Minneapolis. They brought something else as well — a win. Facing the Tigers, owners of the best record in baseball, Tanner Bibee threw seven scoreless innings and the Guardians hitters finally solved the puzzle of Jack Flaherty for an 7-7 victory at Comerica Park.

Logan Allen's last start was interrupted by rain. The weather, however, should be just fine when the Cleveland Guardians left-hander takes the mound in the finale of a four-game series in Detroit on Sunday.

On Saturday, Cleveland won its fifth straight game against the Tigers between regular season and postseason play. Amazingly, the Guardians' 7–5 10-inning victory tied the all-time series at 1,161 games apiece. Sunday is the rubber match, and as all baseball fans know, the six best words in sports are Game Two Thousand Three Hundred Thirty-Five.

It felt like the Tigers were waiting around to die Saturday night. Finally, in the 10th inning, the Guardians obliged them.

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,