Tarik Skubal is lined up to start Thursday for Detroit against Cleveland after a rib-side scare last week. He threw a crisp, max-effort bullpen with no pain, clearing the way for a return appearance.

The Tigers sit seven games from clinching the AL Central at home, and Skubal's 13-5 record with a 2.26 ERA and 224 strikeouts anchors the rotation as they chase the Guardians.

Gavin Williams opposes him for Cleveland in a pivotal showdown; Williams is 10-5 with a 3.16 ERA and 152 strikeouts, a matchup that could swing fantasy expectations and division odds.

Garrett Crochet sits atop MLB with 228 strikeouts in 185 innings for Boston, three starts remain as he aims for the first major strikeout crown of his career. A potential K title would join the Red Sox in a rare club, echoing the legacies of Clemens and Sale. If he handles the workload and avoids a blowup that could derail the run, his path could also edge toward the innings crown in a late-season push against the Yankees.