CLEVELAND, Ohio — Matthew Boyd gets ready to face his former team and American League Cy Young favorite Tarik Skubal in Game 2 of the AL Division Series on Monday at Progressive Field.

I don't write the script,” Matthew Boyd said, “but the person who does is really good at it.” Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize vs. Boyd in friends to foes.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The first thing Tarik Skubal did when he heard that Matthew Boyd had signed with the Guardians at the end of June was send him a text message. The message said, “Traitor’ because Boyd had signed with another AL Central team.

CLEVELAND — Baseball has a way. This game can loosen ends and tie them back together. It can create storylines, dismantle them, and then bring a plot full circle. The sport unites and divides and connects again.

On his way to becoming one of baseball's best pitchers, Detroit's unquestioned ace and the AL's next Cy Young Award winner, Tarik Skubal crossed paths with a veteran pitcher — another lefty — who took him under his wing.