Overview

• Cleveland opens a three-game home set against Detroit on Tuesday with Gavin Williams facing Tarik Skubal, and winning two of three would put the Guardians in the division’s driver’s seat.
• Powered by elite second-half pitching and contributions from rookies Parker Messick and Joey Cantillo, Cleveland leads MLB in ERA since the All-Star break as closer Emmanuel Clase remains on paid leave.
• Detroit’s slide since July 9 (26-37) and a rotation struggling beyond Skubal — who has a 0.41 ERA in three starts vs. Cleveland — have shrunk a once-commanding lead to a single game.
• In the NL, the Mets and Reds are tied for the final wild-card spot, with Cincinnati holding the head-to-head tiebreaker as New York begins a six-game road finish against the Cubs and Marlins and likely needs help.
• MLB owners unanimously approved Patrick Zalupski’s group to purchase the Tampa Bay Rays, with Commissioner Rob Manfred saying the deal is set to close this week.