If you’re a fan of sweeps, you’re out of luck. All four postseason series are tied after two games. On Monday, the Detroit Tigers used one of their patented late game-changing swings to stun the Cleveland Guardians’ elite bullpen, while the Kansas City Royals targeted New York Yankees starter Carlos Rodón, who faltered midway through the game. There are two NLDS games on Tuesday, and we’ll identify the players to watch there. But first, let’s go around the horn…

Kerry Carpenter rose to legendary status in Detroit when his pinch hit three-run home run off Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase in the ninth inning proved to be the difference in the Tigers’ 3-0 victory in Game 2 of the ALDS. . The Tigers got a gem from top prospect Tarik Skubal, who threw seven shutout innings, maintaining his scoreless streak in the postseason. A potential game-saving catch – or is it? – by Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan was relegated to footnote status after Cleveland couldn’t solve the Tigers’ pitching.

STEVEN KWAN CAUGHT THAT!!! #ALDS pic.twitter.com/h3IpT9NrgV

— MLB (@MLB) October 7, 2024

Stock up: Skubal shines and the defense dazzles

With the Tigers’ pitching chaos strategy centered on Skubal’s reliable dominance, Detroit needed a big performance from the presumptive AL Cy Young Award winner. And Skubal delivered, retiring the first 13 batters he faced while holding Cleveland scoreless for seven innings, allowing three hits and striking out eight. Skubal threw 65 of his 92 pitches for strikes – or 71 percent – ​​and has now thrown 20 consecutive scoreless innings dating back to the regular season. Several highlight-reel defensive plays also kept the game close until the ninth. The Tigers turned a tough double play to end the inning and Parker Meadows made a leaping catch against the wall.

Stock Down: Clase has a rare burst

This was a bad time for a scoop. Until Monday, Clase had never allowed a three-run home run in his MLB career. Cleveland’s closer was tasked with four outs and had gotten three when he gave up back-to-back singles in the ninth before facing pinch hitter Carpenter. After a 2-2 count, Clase threw his third straight slider but left it in the zone, allowing Carpenter to send the ball 450 feet without a doubt. This year, the Guardians led 83-0 after the eighth inning. Bad time for another scoop.

Required reading

Carlos Rodón had no-hit stuff the first time through the Royals’ order, but the second time he had… lots of hits, as Kansas City hitters went 5-for-9 in their rematches against Rodón, good for four points. that turned out to be all their pitchers needed. The Royals got just four innings from starter Cole Ragans, who worked hard against a very patient Yankees lineup, but their bullpen retired the side against a Jazz Chisholm Jr. solo homer. in the ninth, which closed the score at 4-2. Royals win. The extra days off in this series likely encouraged the quick hooks, and it worked for both teams, as eleven relievers threw a combined 10 innings and allowed one run (plus one inherited run).

Stock to: Matt Quatraro

The Royals’ victory was truly a team effort, with contributions all along the lineup and from six different pitchers, but I give Quatraro credit for going to his bullpen early after Cole Ragan’s walked four Yankees in four innings and came out after 87 pitches. If you’re looking for a player, Maikel Garcia went 4-for-5 with a stolen base and drove in a run on the first pitch Yankees reliever Ian Hamilton threw.

Stock down: Carlos Rodón

It certainly seemed like the first run in Kansas City, which came on a booming solo homer by Salvador Perez, rattled Rodón, as the Yankees left-hander seemed to lose his release point afterward, missing spots several times before being pulled for a reliever.

Required reading

On deck for Tuesday

Phillies at Mets. 5:08 PM ET, FS1, Fubo

Series tied 1-1
PHI Aaron Nola (14-8, 3.57 ERA) vs. NYM Sean Manaea (12-6, 3.47 ERA)
Stream the MLB Playoffs Fubo (free trial).

Player to watch: Edwin Díaz

The Mets finally return to Citi Field after fifteen days. Perhaps no one will be happier about that homecoming than Edwin Díaz. The Mets closer has been better at home than on the road this season – by a wide margin. At Citi Field, Díaz’s ERA was 1.74, while his ERA everywhere else was 5.96. Díaz will look to bounce back from his shaky performance in Game 2, where he recorded just two of a possible seven outs and was tagged for three earned runs. The day off could be crucial, as Díaz had thrown 130 pitches in eight days.

Padres Dodgers. 9:08 PM ET, FS1, Fubo

Series tied 1-1
LAD Walker Buehler (1-6, 5.38 ERA) vs. SDP Michael King (13-9, 2.95 ERA)
Stream the MLB Playoffs Fubo (free trial).

Player to watch: Manny Machado

Machado was already a polarizing figure in the Padres-Dodgers rivalry before Game 2, but now that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has all but accused Machado of trying to hit him with a throw in the L.A. dugout, all eyes will be targeting the Padres’ third baseman. , who is 2-for-10 in the series with three punchouts.

(Kerry Carpenter is greeted at home plate by Trey Sweeney and Jake Rogers: Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)