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Tigers hope to keep 'swag' in crucial series with Indians

Duane Burleson / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Detroit Tigers can cut into the Cleveland Indians' AL Central lead when the teams open a three-game set at Comerica Park.

Cleveland is 6-0 against Detroit this year.

The Tigers (38-35) got a walk-off wild pitch on Thursday to complete a four-game sweep of Seattle, and catcher James McCann says ''there's a different feel in the clubhouse, adding ''I don't really know the right word other than just the way that guys walk around, just a different swag about our team.''

Cleveland right-hander Danny Salazar (8-3, 2.23) faces Tigers righty Jordan Zimmermann (9-3, 3.24).

A look at what else is happening around the majors today:

MACHINE DAYS

The Reds open their weekend honoring Pete Rose by reuniting members of the Big Red Machine that won World Series titles in 1975-76. Rose was a member of the team and will be inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame on Saturday and have his No. 14 officially retired on Sunday. It'll be a treat for visiting Padres manager Andy Green, who grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, and attended Reds games as a boy. ''It's hard not being a Pete Rose fan growing up in this area,'' Green said. ''So it's going to be special to watch that happen on Saturday.''

THUMBS NOT QUITE UP

The Pirates hope a day off Thursday can help spring Andrew McCutchen back into MVP form when Pittsburgh opens a four-game series with the Dodgers. McCutchen has been dealing with a swollen left thumb and is hitting just .238 with 10 homers this season. He was held out of Pittsburgh's 5-3 loss to San Francisco, and trainer Todd Tomczyk said McCutchen rested for a ''maintenance thing'' and not because of the thumb. ''It's just about getting him off the field and getting him a rest - as we do with all the guys - mentally and physically,'' manager Clint Hurdle said.

CARDS' HOT HAND

Carlos Martinez (7-5, 3.17) has recovered nicely from a tough stretch in May and leads the Cardinals into a three-game interleague set at Seattle. Martinez is 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA over his past four starts and pitched seven scoreless innings in a 4-3 loss to Texas in his last outing.

WE MEET AGAIN

Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel (3-9, 5.32) tries to turn around his season when Houston opens a series against the Royals in a rematch of an AL Division Series matchup from last season. Keuchel won Game 3 of that series, but Kansas City advanced by winning Game 5. The AL Cy Young Award winner appeared as a reliever in that deciding game and allowed a late three-run homer to Kendrys Morales in a 7-2 loss.

PRICE SEEMS RIGHT

Red Sox lefty David Price (8-4, 4.24) looks to keep his ERA trending down in a game against Texas. Price signed a $217 million, seven-year deal with Boston in the offseason and has a 2.47 ERA over his past eight starts, helping him cut more than two runs off his ERA since a lackluster start to the year.

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