'This is what you dream about': Matthew Boyd to start ALDS Game 5 for Guardians vs. Tigers

DETROIT — Matthew Boyd was brought to tears as he discussed the opportunity in front of him and the Guardians.

Boyd spent more than a year rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. It was months and months on back fields, or in gyms, anywhere but on the mound in a major league stadium.

As he neared the ability to return to game action, he chose to sign with the Guardians. And now, he'll start a winner-take-all Game 5 of the American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers Saturday afternoon. The game time was moved up to 1:08 p.m. ET due to incoming weather.

Boyd was asked how he could take the last few months in as his baseball journey continued after a tremendous speed bump.

"Just gratitude," Boyd said, before tearing up as he thought about the position he's in within the game of baseball. "All those days — man, you're making me cry. I don't know why. This is ridiculous. I mean, you're in the gym, right, and this is what you dream of, this is what you want, and you go do it."

Boyd referenced the "script" still being written for his career. Saturday's start couldn't be any more fitting as he takes the mound against his long-time former team with a trip to the ALCS on the line.

Game 5 will be another matchup between Boyd and Tarik Skubal , Detroit's ace and the likely unanimous Cy Young Award winner. These two matched up in Game 2 , which the Tigers won 3-0 on Kerry Carpenter's ninth-inning home run off Emmanuel Clase. Boyd was terrific in that start, tossing 4 2/3 scoreless innings.

He might have an even shorter leash in a winner-take-all, all-hands-on-deck ALDS Game 5. The off days before and after Game 5 will allow the Guardians to be as aggressive as possible with their league-best bullpen.

From a mid-season signing to now in a massively important position as an elimination game starter, Boyd's season has been a roller coaster. He hopes this isn't the last loop.

"This is what you dream about," Boyd said. "You dream about everything leading up to it."

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 'This is what you dream about': Matthew Boyd to start ALDS Game 5 for Guardians vs. Tigers