Bibee allowed a hit and struck out a batter in the first inning, but escaped without a run-scoring run when Colt Keith struck out Steven Kwan. He retired with two outs in the fifth inning after scattering four hits, walking a batter and having six strikeouts in a 7-0 win for Cleveland.

“I feel like I kind of let that (first inning) get to me earlier this year,” Bibee said. “Last outing, I was able to get through the difficult first inning and kind of calm down and settle in.”

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt named Bibee the starter for Thursday’s fourth road game. He will take a regular break and face the Tigers for the sixth time this season. In four regular season appearances, Bibee was 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 22 innings.

Bibee admitted to being nervous before Game 1, but said things would feel a little different on Thursday.

“Certainly a lot less nervous, but I think right now I’m just trying to go out there and win a game,” Bibee said. “I don’t care how I do it, I don’t care how we do it. I just try to go out and win. That’s kind of the whole point of this year.”

Emotions still play a big role in Bibee’s game, as they do with any starting pitcher in the postseason. Tarik Skubal, the Game 2 starter in Detroit, capitalized on his emptions in seven shutout innings, gesturing toward Cleveland fans as he roared from the mound in the fifth and sixth innings after escaping the Guardians’ scoring opportunities by striking out two Double plays in the bottom of the inning. Bibee expects the same environment when he steps on the mound at Comerica Park.

“No matter where you go, especially with these teams left, it’s going to be a really great atmosphere,” Bibee said. “The fans here (Detroit) want their team to win, and our job is to win in a hostile environment.”

Bibee consulted with his mental coach Brian Cain before Saturday’s start. He said when he reflects on his outings, the focus is on execution. Even if the result is negative, as long as he made a particular pitch, he has controlled everything he can control.

“I go over every single pitch, executed or not, yes, no, the whole game,” Bibee said.

He pays particular attention to his execution in the 0-0 and 1-1 draws.

“Being able to move forward, move forward (again) and put them away,” Bibee said. “That’s pretty much the goal and just whether they get implemented.”

In the late season, execution matters. Bibee said there is no let-up in the opposing lineup at this point in the season.

“They’ll wear you down,” Bibee said. “It’s pretty important, I think, to be able to calm down afterwards.”

Neutralizing Detroit’s familiarity with its pitch mix is ​​another challenge the 25-year-old will face against the Tigers.

“You know your mix, everyone knows your mix,” Bibee said. “It’s just a matter of figuring out how to use it, when to use it, on which person. I’m not the same pitcher I was in start one and I’m not the same pitcher I was in start three against these guys.”