This article was originally published on www.si.com/mlb/tigers as Detroit Tigers Ace Tarik Skubal Joins Elite Company Against Guardians . The Detroit Tigers were able to sweep their series against the Cleveland Guardians with their ace on the mound.

With Skubal leading the rotation, Detroit has jumped to the top of the American League. The Tigers sit at 56-34, holding a 12.5-game lead in the AL Central. They’ve become one of the most balanced teams in the league, and with their ace firing on all cylinders, they look poised for a deep playoff push.

Tyler, now 31, was Tarik's most frequent and most combative opponent. They would wrestle or play one-on-one basketball games, what Tyler calls "Skubal Games" played by "Skubal Rules," which meant the defense calls fouls and "nobody ever thinks they foul, so most Skubal Games started out competitive and ended up as boxing matches."