Guardians pull away late, take second in a row from Tigers, 2-1

CLEVELAND — Here’s the part that might frustrate a portion of the fan base.

Whether or not the Tigers end up trading right-hander Jack Flaherty before the trade deadline next Tuesday will have almost nothing to do with how many games the team wins in the meantime.

What will matter, above anything else, will be the quality of the return package president Scott Harris is offered. The Tigers, as well as they’ve played this month, still went into the game Wednesday in fourth place in the Central Division, 11 game behind first-place Cleveland.

Now is not the time to take a trade chip of Flaherty’s value off the table.

He did nothing but enhance his profile at Progressive Field Wednesday. He gave up only an unearned run and three hits in six innings but could only sit and watch as Josh Naylor bounced a two-out single up the middle in the bottom of the eighth, scoring his little brother Bo Naylor, sending the Guardians to a 2-1 win.

Beau Brieske got himself in trouble, walking Bo Naylor to start the inning and falling behind several hitters. Bo Naylor stole second and with two outs, manager AJ Hinch walked Jose Ramirez intentionally.

Josh Naylor attacked a 3-0 pitch from Brieske and hit a two-hopper up the middle that grazed off second baseman Colt Keith's glove on its way into center field.

But back to Flaherty. Harris doesn’t have to accept an offer he doesn’t love. He has the leverage of a qualifying offer. Which, if Flaherty doesn’t agree to it (he won’t), means the Tigers will get a competitive balance draft pick most likely at the end of the first round in 2025.

It’s a win-win.

The Tigers signed Flaherty for one year and $14 million. With one start left before the deadline (Monday), Flaherty sits with a 2.95 ERA in 106 2/3 innings, with 133 strikeouts and just 19 walks. He is only 28 and has earned the right to hit free agency this offseason.

He wouldn’t be looking to sign an extension or take the qualifying offer. So, at worst, the Tigers get a high draft pick. At best, they have a chance to greatly enhance their roster with big-league ready talent.

The Guardians, as they did to Tarik Skubal on Monday, made Flaherty earn his innings. They grinded out long at-bats, fouled off 17 pitches and worked a pair of walks in six innings.

Still, Flaherty allowed only two runners into scoring position. He struck out six and left the game tied, 1-1.

Matt Vierling solo home run in the first inning, his 13th, was the Tigers only run. They managed only two hits off starter Tanner Bibee in five innings. Bibee left before he threw a pitch in the sixth with what the Guardians called cramping in his lower extremities.

The Guardians tied it in the bottom of the fifth. Bo Naylor singled with two outs and went to second on a passed ball. Catcher Carson Kelly tried to pick and frame a low pitch from Flaherty and it got past him.

Leadoff hitter Steven Kwan cashed that in, ripping an RBI single to center.

The Tigers did not get a hit over the final four innings off four different relievers. Closer Emmanuel Clase recorded his 31st save.