CLEVELAND, Ohio – After surrendering the AL Central Division lead for the first time this season, the Detroit Tigers (37-32) salvaged the final game of a four-game series with Kansas City to pull within 0.5 games of the first-place Royals.
Check: MLB Standings
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On Friday the Tigers begin a three-game series against the Cleveland Indians (37-36), who sit just two games behind Detroit.
Friday night kicks off a nine-game road trip for the Tigers, who have played much better away from Comerica Park this season. Detroit owns an 18-12 record on the road and have posted a 19-19 record at home.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN (Detroit), STO (Cleveland)
Cleveland, on the other hand, trends in the opposite direction. The Indians own a 14-24 record on the road but have won 11 of their last 12 games at Progressive Field. Nick Swisher gave Cleveland an exciting win on Thursday night, hitting a walk-off grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning to beat the Angels 5-3.
Rick Porcello hopes to cool off the red-hot Indians Friday and earn his first win of the month. The 25-year-old has struggled in June, losing two of his three starts and posting a 5.21 ERA. Sunday was Porcello's first no decision of the season, but he recorded a quality start after lasting just five innings in his previous outing.
Porcello will face right-handed Corey Kluber, who's also searching for his first June victory. Kluber has failed to record a quality start in three June appearances, but his ERA is still a strong 3.35 on the year.
Miguel Cabrera owns Kluber in his career, batting .524 (11/21) with three home runs and seven RBI against him.
Game 2 of the series will be another night game, with the series finale beginning on Sunday afternoon.