The Detroit Tigers left Cleveland on July 6 with a commanding 15 1/2-game lead in the American League Central after a series sweep of the Guardians, who had dropped 10 straight.

When the Tigers get to Progressive Field on Tuesday, they will be trying to avoid suffering the worst collapse since baseball went to divisions in 1969.

Detroit (85-71) has a 1-game lead going into the three-game series. The Tigers were up 10 1/2 games when September started, but have gone 5-13 and have dropped six straight and nine of 10.

“This last month, a lot of people could say we were out of it. I think (players) could have started to look at their numbers and just tried to look to the offseason,” Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan said. “But we’ve been playing some really unselfish baseball, grinding togeth

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