CLEVELAND -- With one week to go before the start of the postseason, a potential preview came through the playoff-like atmosphere enveloping Progressive Field on Tuesday night for the opener of a critical three-game series between the Guardians and Tigers.

A raucous crowd of 29,571 packed the ballpark as Cleveland and Detroit kicked off a series that very well could determine who wins the American League Central this season. The Guardians helped their cause with a 5-2 win .

Cleveland moved into first place since it secured the season series over Detroit -- which will serve as the first tiebreaker if they have identical records after Game 162 this weekend. The Guardians -- who trailed Detroit in the division by 15 1/2 games entering play on July 9 -- swept the Tigers at Comerica Park

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