When the Guardians signed veteran lefty Matthew Boyd to a major-league contract back in June, his former teammate and dinner pal Tarik Skubal sent him a congratulatory text.

Of course, in typical Skubal fashion, there was some snark to it, too.

“I think my first text to him was that he was a traitor,” Skubal said with a smile, “signing within the division.”

Who would’ve thought way back then that not only would Boyd be in line to start Game 2 of the American League Division Series, but also that if he does get the ball, he’ll be going up Skubal and the Tigers, the surprise story in baseball this season?

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt hadn’t officially named a Game 2 starter as of noon Saturday, when the Tigers and Guardians were getting set to play Game 1 of the best-of-five series at Progressive Field. It’s still officially listed as TBD, with an official announcement expected after Game 1 or during Sunday’s off-day. But Boyd is a legitimate option, showing promising returns in his eight starts since signing with the team, albeit the last three have been short.

Boyd, 33, pithed for the Tigers from 2015-21, and then again in 2023, before having Tommy John surgery last year. He was considered a quality clubhouse presence, and he took a young Skubal under his wing.

“He invited me over for my first dinner in the big leagues, because it was COVID, so we couldn’t go out to dinner, and we probably weren’t supposed to be in each other’s rooms,” said Skubal, who shares Washington ties with Boyd — Boyd’s a native of Sammamish and Skubal attended Seattle University. “He had dinner for us. He’s a great mentor and leader. I’m still really close with him to this day. Him and his family are special people. It’s going to be fun.

“Coming back from Tommy John and he signs with a team and gets an opportunity to prove that he’s healthy, and he’s looked great. I actually watched a lot of his rehab starts, and texted him after those, just because the process is tough. Tommy John is a tough injury to have, just more mentally than physically.

“Now we’re on this stage,” said Skubal, adding Boyd has been huge throughout his major-league career, being there for him when he’s struggled, or been injured. “So I think that’s pretty special. It’ll be fun to watch him go play.”

Boyd made 15 starts for the Tigers in 2023 before having Tommy John surgery on June 28. He didn’t throw a baseball until Christmas morning, back home in Washington. He threw from 45 feet, and progressed from there, fielding some interest from teams along the way, but nothing overly serious.

He threw for 18 teams in a workout in early June at UCLA, as he recalled in a recent conversation with the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Terry Pluto. The Guardians called first with a major-league contract offer.

“The more people I talked to, the more I heard something special was happening in Cleveland,” Boyd told Pluto before the start of the Tigers-Guardians ALDS. “It was a place I wanted to be.”

The Guardians viewed Boyd as potential depth for a rotation that has had some injuries — including ace Shane Bieber, who was lost for the year in April and had Tommy John surgery — and some inconsistencies and struggles. But when the Guardians signed him, it wasn’t clear if he would make an impact in 2024.

He made five rehab starts across three minor-league levels, striking out 27 in 21.2 innings.

He was back in the big leagues Aug. 13, and allowed one earned run on three hits in 5.1 innings against the Chicago Cubs. In eight starts with the Guardians, he’s 2-2 with a 2.72 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 39.2 innings.

“It’s a bit unreasonable to expect a pitcher coming off Tommy John to immediately pitch as well as Matt has,” Guardians president Chris Antonetti told the Plain Dealer. “But getting to know Matt personally, I’m not surprised by his success. He has an incredible work ethic that enables him to get the most out of his ability every day. He’s an incredible teammate who elevates the environment around him. He’s made a massive impact for us.”

Boyd pitched twice against his old team, the Tigers, in 2022 with the Mariners, and didn’t allowed a hit in four innings of relief. He walked one and struck out five, and also pitched in the 2022 playoffs with Seattle. He returned to Detroit on a one-year, $10 million deal for 2023, but struggled mightily, before word came he needed Tommy John surgery.

Skubal, meanwhile, has faced the Guardians this season, but only once, and not since late July. In Cleveland, the runaway favorite for the Cy Young Award and the Triple Crown winner in the American League (18 wins, 2.39 ERA, 228 strikeouts) allowed 10 hits but just one earned run in seven innings while striking out six. The Tigers won the game. The game showcased what the Guardians are, a versatile team that has had success against left-handed pitching.

“Yeah, that was a grind of an outing,” Skubal said. “When the bases are constantly filled with base runners, innings can kind of unravel a little bit. I think with any team you just have to continue to make pitches, and I felt like I did a good job against them last time. That’s when I’m at my best, when I’m executing pitches and getting ahead of guys and making guys uncomfortable, whether that’s 10 hits, I don’t know how many of them were singles or hard hit.

“But, yeah, I mean that’s baseball. It’s what a team like this can do, too.”

Skubal’s start against Cleveland was the second-to-last meeting between the AL Central rivals this season. They played their last series just before the July 30 trade deadline.

That was back when the Tigers were sellers, and the Guardians were contenders. Now, they’re both legit contenders, with the Tigers doing it in a most unorthodox way — as Skubal is there only true starting pitcher these days.

“That was a long time ago,” said Skubal, 27, who now has a postseason performance under his belt, a dominating Game 1 start in the sweep of the Houston Astros. “And our team is so much different than then, and so is theirs.

“As much as we played each other, 13 times this year, this I think will feel a little bit new in terms of us versus them.”

There could be a new — yet familiar — opponent on the mound for the Guardians.

“I’m going to be rooting against him,” Skubal said of Boyd, “pretty heavily.”