Series Preview: Cleveland Indians look to stay hot against Detroit

Sunday, Aug. 23, 1:10 p.m. EST

Probable Starters: Carlos Carrasco (2-2, 3.71 ERA) vs. Tarik Skubal 0-1, 18.00 ERA)

The series finale on Sunday will feature two very different pitchers on the bump. For Cleveland, it will be the veteran Carlos Carrasco while the Tigers look to Tarik Skubal for just his second career start.

We’ll start with the hometown Indians with Carrasco. The start will be the first outing for Carrasco against the Tigers in almost a year with his last appearance being back on September 17, 2019. The Indians won 7-2 that day with Carrasco tossing one inning of relief. However, in terms of starting on the mound, Carrasco hasn’t done that against Detroit since July 27, 2018.

Since Carrasco’s last start against the Tigers, Cleveland is 23-4 over the span, plus whatever happens in the first two games of the series on Friday and Saturday.

Now to the youthful side of the matchup in Skubal, he’ll look to bounce back after getting knocked around in his debut on Tuesday against the White Sox. He completed just two innings in the loss, surrendering four runs on seven hits and one walk with just a single strikeout.

Chicago went on to win that game 10-4 after Tim Anderson began the game, and Skubal’s career, with a lead-off home run.

This will mark what should be the first of many starts for Skubal against the Indians’ in his career and could be the beginning of a new chapter in the division rivalry that has been heavily lopsided of late.