With grip on first slipping, can Tigers find groove vs. Braves?

The Detroit Tigers suddenly find themselves desperately trying to hang on to first place in the American League Central.

The Tigers (85-68) were swept by second-place Cleveland in a three-game series this week, allowing the Guardians to climb within 3 1/2 games. Detroit, which has lost six of its last seven games, will close out its home schedule this weekend against Atlanta, beginning on Friday night.

Up next after the Braves? Three games in Cleveland.

"We do have to pick ourselves up," manager A.J. Hinch said following Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Guardians. "We got our (butt) kicked in pretty much every aspect. They swept us and they're going to get another shot at us -- or we're going to get another shot at them, whichever way you want to say it -- next week. But we've got three games in front of us (against Atlanta) that we better deal with to keep chipping away at the win total. These are tough times when you go through these stretches at this time of the year."

The Tigers have scored just one run in their last two games.

"In the big picture, it's very disappointing," Hinch said. "We come every day to win and to win (every) series. We know how important these games are. We've got some work ahead of us to do this right."

Charlie Morton (9-10, 5.56 ERA) will take the mound on Friday, though he hasn't gone more than four innings in any of his last three starts. Walks have been an issue -- he's issued 11 during that stretch.

Morton is 4-2 with a 3.51 ERA in eight career starts against the Braves.

The Braves (70-83) will be sitting out the playoffs but they haven't quit on the season. Atlanta has won five straight following a four-game slide.

The offense has carried the team during its upswing, scoring 39 runs during the winning streak. First baseman Matt Olson has homered in five of his last six games. He's also banged out four other extra-base hits during that stretch with 10 runs scored and 11 RBIs.

Right-hander Bryce Elder (7-10, 5.56) will start the series opener for Atlanta. Elder racked up four consecutive quality starts before getting pounded for six runs and 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings by Houston on Saturday.

"It (was) probably location, but he's been on a great run -- but (the Astros are) a really good hitting club," manager Brian Snitker said. "If you make mistakes and don't hit your spots, they're (going to) make you pay. It's just one of (those) days."

Elder gave up a two-run homer to Christian Walker in the Braves' most recent loss. It was just the second homer he had allowed over his last six starts.

"I think they thought they had a pretty good approach," Elder said. "I thought I didn't make the pitches when I needed to. (There were) a couple of two-strike sliders (that were) up. The homer was probably the wrong pitch and an even worse location. I think it was kind of ugly all around. I think there were two or three pitches that if I made a better pitch, it may not have been a really good outing but it would have kind of limited the damage."

Elder will be facing the Tigers for the first time.

--Field Level Media