The Detroit Tigers are slumping at the worst possible time with first place in the American League Central at stake.

The Tigers (85-69) have lost seven of their past eight games, and they got hammered by Atlanta 10-1 on Friday in the opener of the three-game series. Detroit will look to turn things around against the visiting Braves on Saturday.

"It was ugly at the beginning, it was ugly at the end and there wasn't much to talk about in the middle," Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said of the series-opening rout. "Makes for a long night."

The second-place Cleveland Guardians (82-71) won their eighth consecutive game on Friday to pull within 2 1/2 games of the Tigers.

"It's very obvious where we are in the season and what's at stake and the struggles we've had," Hinch said. "I don't think it

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