The Detroit Tigers suddenly find themselves desperately trying to hang on to first place in the American League Central.

The Tigers (85-68) were swept by second-place Cleveland in a three-game series this week, allowing the Guardians to climb within 3 1/2 games. Detroit, which has lost six of its last seven games, will close out its home schedule this weekend against Atlanta, beginning on Friday night.

Up next after the Braves? Three games in Cleveland.

"We do have to pick ourselves up," manager A.J. Hinch said following Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Guardians. "We got our (butt) kicked in pretty much every aspect. They swept us and they're going to get another shot at us -- or we're going to get another shot at them, whichever way you want to say it -- next week. But we've got three games

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