CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The first thing Tarik Skubal did when he heard that Matthew Boyd had signed with the Guardians at the end of June was send him a text message. The message said, “Traitor’ because Boyd had signed with another AL Central team.

CLEVELAND — Baseball has a way. This game can loosen ends and tie them back together. It can create storylines, dismantle them, and then bring a plot full circle. The sport unites and divides and connects again.

All those hours and days of working in the weight room, working with trainers to come back from Tommy John surgery when his body screamed “stop!” but his mind said “Keep going!” are about to pay