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Indians improve to 6-0 vs. Tigers with sweep

Jason Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Cleveland Indians' early success against the Detroit Tigers definitely isn't lost on right-hander Trevor Bauer, who outdueled rookie Michael Fulmer en route to a 9-4 victory Thursday to cap a three-game sweep and help his club improve to 6-0 against Detroit this year.

"It's huge," Bauer told MLB.com. "I think if you look at the last couple years, our record in the first half of the season against them especially, it feels like every time we play them we get just bludgeoned. Not just beat, but beat bad."

Bauer isn't wrong. Since the 25-year-old was traded to Cleveland ahead of the 2013 campaign, the Indians have been mostly unable to solve Detroit, managing a 19-37 record (.339) with a -75 run differential over the last three years heading into this season.

Year Record vs. Tigers Run Differential
2013 4-15 -50
2014 8-11 -16
2015 7-11 -9
TOTAL 19-37 -75

So far, however, things have been different this year. Almost half of Cleveland's victories have come against the Tigers, division champions in 2013 and 2014, and the Indians have outscored Detroit by a whopping 4.17 runs per gamed in their six matchups.

"So, obviously, any time you get a sweep against anybody, and then a division opponent, and one that has beat us badly the last couple years, that's a big boost," Bauer added. "I thought we played very well all week."

Tigers manager Brad Ausmus didn't offer any excuses after Thursday's series finale, either.

"They outplayed us. Simple as that," Ausmus said. "They outpitched us. They outhit us. They outdefended us. Period. They were the better baseball team out there. They've been the better baseball team all six games that they've played against us."

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