Tanner Bibee, Guardians, blank Tigers in first of four matchups this weekend

Tanner Bibee and the Cleveland Guardians may have entered Thursday night's contest against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park as the underdogs, but by the end of the game, there was one team that played like they owned the best record in baseball, and it wasn't the home team.

Bibee came through with a spectacular performance against Detroit, striking out a season-high eight batters while allowing just three hits and walking one in 7 innings of shutout baseball. This was the work of an ace, and that is exactly what the Guardians needed as they began this crucial four-game set with the Tigers, an arm capable of taking the mound and sending most batters faced back to the dugout without reaching first safely.

This was by far Bibee's best outing of the season, and it could not have come at a better time, not just for himself but for the entire Guardians team. Being able to march into Detroit and draw first blood against an opponent that very few, if any, expected Cleveland to be competitive in is quite a statement. This Guardians team is far better than their run-differential suggests, and it is games like Thursday's that should put the rest of the American League on notice.

Tim Herrin's brief appearance in this contest did not go according to plan, not only putting the shutout in jeopardy but the final result as well. A walk followed by two singles would load the bases with nobody out while Cleveland was clinging to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 8th inning.

Cade Smith would relieve Herrin and promptly strike out the next three batters to end the inning without incident. Matt Festa took the 9th and would proceed to end the game after the Guardians would tack on four insurance runs in the top of the inning to provide a little more breathing room for Cleveland's relief corps.

This was one of the most complete games the Guardians have played this season, and it coming against first place Detroit could not have been better timing. Cleveland was able to race out to an early lead, hold on to it through a tough moment late, and add on a few more late to ensure the win.

Another game or two like this one against Detroit might have everyone looking at this Guardians team a little bit differently by the end of the weekend, rather than being considered a team that those at the top of the standings shouldn't concern themselves with. Hopefully, the Guardians can continue to play at this level in the next three games, subsequently having the AL Central having a very different look by Sunday night.