Tigers can't let Josh Naylor bring Guardians fans back to life with ALDS behavior

Josh Naylor has seen the Tigers more than almost any other team in his career, owing to his five seasons as a Guardian. He hasn't exactly crushed them (.234 average, .749 OPS in 43 games), but the familiarity has to make him a little more comfortable as he's been facing them in the ALDS as a member of the Mariners. Besides, old rivalries die hard.

Naylor was silent through the first three games of the ALDS, hitless in 13 at-bats with just one walk, but he woke up in a big way in Game 4, collecting three hits, including a double. He was also a nuisance whenever he got into scoring position, blatantly relaying signals of tells from Tigers pitchers. He was also infuriating on defense at first base that day, making a couple of nice plays and even pulling off his second unassisted double play of the series.

He almost didn't play in Games 3 and 4 and didn't travel with the Mariners to Detroit as he and his wife were on baby watch. However, he confirmed the birth of his child after Game 3 and put on a display of dad strength (or at least dad fortitude) in Game 4.

Guardians fans are rooting hard against the Tigers, as expected, but neutralizing Naylor in Game 5 is sure to shut all of them up.

Tigers need to keep former Guardian Josh Naylor off the base paths in ALDS Game 5

No Mariner except Jorge Polanco, who spent a decade as a Twin, has faced the Tigers as much as Naylor, and we definitely don't want Naylor doing what Polanco did in Game 2, when he hit two solo homers off of Tarik Skubal, who will also be on the mound for Game 5.

And we don't want Naylor getting on second base to signal pitches to his teammates at the plate, especially when the guy right behind him is usually Eugenio Suárez.

Guardians fans didn't need any more reason to root for the Mariners to put an end to the Tigers' season, but the fact that Seattle now has a guy who was a staple of Cleveland's lineup for years makes it even sweeter for any Guardians fans who might be hate-watching.

Naylor felt like he was just waking up in Game 4, but the Tigers need to make sure he stays quiet in Game 5.