(Sports Network) - Just like that, the Detroit Tigers are out of the Cleveland Indians' rearview mirror, and in the driver's seat in the American League Central Division.

The Tigers have caught hold of some momentum over the last week, taking two of three from the Philadelphia Phillies over the weekend, then sweeping the Washington Nationals in three games. Detroit accomplished both feats on the road, and the Tigers have now won a Major League-best 24 games away from home.

In addition, the team continues to pile on runs as if they were storing them away for a major storm or something. The Tigers put up 22 runs in three games against the Phillies. Against the Nats, it wasn't even close, as Detroit amassed a whopping 32 runs. It doesn't take a math major to conclude that scoring 10 runs per game will almost always result in a win.

The Tigers continue to lead the majors in hitting, and they are doing so by an ever-growing margin. Currently, Detroit is hitting an astounding .295 as a team, while the next best team, the Angels, are hitting .288. Detroit leads the majors in runs, hits, doubles and RBIs, while the team is in the top-five in triples and home runs.

Thanks to all that hitting, the Tigers will be looking for their fifth straight win on Friday when they wrap up interleague play with a weekend series on the road against Atlanta.

The current streak began on Sunday in the series finale against the Phils. Justin Verlander, coming off a no-hitter his last time out, held Philadelphia to three runs over six innings. Thanks to a five-run seventh inning by the Tigers, Verlander was able to pick up his eighth win of the season.

The following day, Detroit built up a 9-1 lead against Washington and led by four in the ninth. Closer Todd Jones made things interesting by allowing three runs in the final frame, although he finally got Ronnie Belliard to end the game on a ground out with two men on.

Tuesday's game was a laugher, as Detroit pounded out 17 hits en route to a 15-1 blowout win. Starting pitcher Chad Durbin merely had to show up to the ballpark to earn the win, although he had a solid outing by yielding just one run in six innings of work.

Detroit completed the sweep with an 8-4 victory over Washington on Wednesday, as the Tigers broke the game open with five runs in the sixth inning. This time it was Jeremy Bonderman benefiting from the run support. Bonderman improved to 8-0 and has not been charged with a loss in 17 straight starts.

ROGERS TO MAKE HIS LONG-AWAITED RETURN

It's a day Tigers fans have been waiting for since the team broke from Spring Training, and on Friday, that day will come. Veteran left-hander Kenny Rogers will make his long-awaited first start of the season after having been on the disabled list since early-May.

Rogers, so vital to the team's postseason run a year ago, was ready to start on Wednesday, but Manager Jim Leyland wanted to slot him in between Bonderman and Verlander in the rotation. Though he relies more on changing speeds and pitch location than arm strength, Rogers has a knack for pitching deep into ball games. And although he will be kept on a short leash by Leyland for his first few starts, Rogers' return resembles a major trade-deadline acquisition for the club.

"That's what we're hoping for," president and general manager Dave Dombrowski told the team's official Web site on Thursday. "If he pitches like he's capable of pitching, the answer would be yes."

ROBERTSON SHOOTING BLANKS

Another starting pitcher vying to come off the DL is Nate Robertson, who has been out for two weeks with a tired arm. Though he was mostly ineffective in several starts leading up to the DL stint, Robertson appears ready to regain his spot in the rotation. On Thursday, he pitched six innings of no-hit ball for Double-A Erie.

Robertson used all of his pitches, and flashed plenty of bite on his off-speed stuff. He threw 72 pitches in the outing, saying the extra rest has his arm feeling really good.

"More than anything, the purpose of my start (Thursday) was to monitor the action of my pitches," Robertson told the team's official Web site. "I went on the DL because my previous five outings were a grind. My slider had no tilt, my two-seamer was flat. Everything was flat, really. I was never really injured, per se, but I'd hit a wall, and wasn't getting results."

With Robertson's pending return, the Tigers' rotation becomes a bit crowded. Robertson, Andrew Miller, Chad Durbin and Mike Maroth will be competing for three spots. Robertson said he hopes to return to the rotation for next week's series against the Texas Rangers, but that decision is not his to make.

WHO'S HOT

Magglio Ordonez is hitting a ridiculous Ted Williams-like .442 over the last 27 games. The whole lineup is hot, in fact, as every regular except Craig Monroe is hitting better than .300 over the last 30 days.

On the pitching side, Bonderman has six wins in his last six starts.

WHO'S NOT

Absolutely nobody in the lineup is slumping right now. On the pitching staff, Mike Maroth has some work to do if he is to stay in the rotation when Robertson returns. Maroth has posted a 5.45 ERA over his last six starts.

A LOOK AHEAD

The Tigers wrap up interleague play in Atlanta this weekend, before hosting the Rangers for a four-game set. On Friday, Rogers makes his return from shoulder surgery, and will oppose veteran John Smoltz (8-3, 2.84). Saturday's game pits Verlander (8-2, 2.90) against Kyle Davies (3-6, 5.65). And on Sunday, Miller (2-1, 3.63) closes out the series opposite Chuck James (6-6, 4.11).