Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres — who signed a one-year, $15 million contract — is hitting .277 with five home runs across 38 games.

Carlos Santana had a two-run double in the fourth inning, Angel Martínez hit a solo homer in the fifth and Tanner Bibee threw seven scoreless innings to lead the Cleveland Guardians in a 7-0 win over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night.

With wins in seven of the team’s last nine games, the Tigers still not only have the best record in the American League Central, but the best record in Major League Baseball. Coming into Thursday, Detroit is 5.5 games up on both the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals for first in the division.

Jack Flaherty picked up the 1,000th strikeout of his career, but his teammates were held scoreless in an ALDS rematch.

Tanner Bibee tossed seven impressive innings and the Cleveland Guardians beat the host Detroit Tigers on Thursday in the opener of a four-game series.

Just as the Tigers seem to be nearing the return of several injured hitters, they have one more to worry about. Second baseman Gleyber Torres left Thursday’s game against the Guardians after lining out to center field to end the third inning.

Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez are the constants at the top of Cleveland’s lineup. Kwan, in the leadoff spot, is hitting .317 (60 for 189) with four homers, 17 RBI and 27 runs. Ramirez, who bounces between the second and third spot, is hitting .304 (52 for 171) with nine homers, 24 RBI and 26 runs.

But that's a significant if, considering how the Clemson arms performed in last week's Clemson Regional. Coach John Rittman and the Tigers roll into Austin with some red-hot arms after allowing just three runs in three wins.

With a bullpen game on tap for the rubber game of their three-game series against the Cardinals on Wednesday, the Tigers knew it would take a team effort to pull out their fifth series win out of their past six.