Cleveland Guardians: Triston McKenzie dazzles Detroit as Aaron Civale put on IL

While Triston McKenzie dominated the Detroit Tigers, the Guardians had to place Aaron Civale on the injured list ahead of the All-Star break.

Triston McKenzie continued his development into a potential ace Thursday night, throwing eight shutout innings and striking out a career-high 12 batters in Cleveland’s 4-0 win over the Detroit Tigers.

McKenzie, who has been haunted by the long ball this season, surrendered only five hits, giving up very little hard contact along the way. He also used his curveball to perfection, throwing it 22% of the time and inducing ten whiffs on 17 swings. This season, McKenzie has been using his curveball a shade under 21% of the time – up from 18% in 2021 – and it was working especially well for him Thursday night.

McKenzie now sports a 3.20 ERA in 101 1/3 innings this season and has yet to give up a run in July with just a 1.92 FIP.

On the flip side, the Guardians placed pitcher Aaron Civale on the 15-day IL with a right wrist strain, after he left his start this week following the first inning. Civale, 27, was on the injured list earlier this season as well with a strained left glute, and spent considerable time on the IL in 2021 with a finger sprain. On the season, Civale has a 6.17 ERA – though a 4.22 FIP and 4.85 xERA – in 12 starts.