It’s not that the Tigers played poorly, it’s just that they can’t quite make the pitch when they need it ... or get the hit when they need it.

This is not how the Detroit Tigers drew it up at the beginning of the season. After leading the American League Central for the better part of the past five months, the Tigers’ playoff hopes and the outcome of the division come down to one weekend in Boston.

Jahmai Jones led off the game with a home run and the Detroit Tigers snapped an eight-game losing streak, beating Cleveland 4-2 on Thursday night to move back into a tie with the Guardians for the AL Central lead.

Learn about the Cleveland Guardians' AL Central and playoff odds following their Sept. 26 loss against the Detroit Tigers, according to experts.

CLEVELAND -- The Detroit Tigers will try to snap their lengthy losing streak on Wednesday night at Progressive Field. They play the Guardians at 6:40 p.m. The Tigers (85-72) have lost seven straight and 10 of their last 11. They now trail the Guardians (85-72) in the AL Central by virtue of having lost the season series and the tiebreaker.

The baseball game will be broadcast on Apple TV Plus as part of the streaming service's Friday Night Baseball lineup. The iPhone is being used to cover gameplay from positions in Boston's Fenway Park, including the home dugout, the Green Monster (the nickname for the stadium's famous left field wall) and one that will roam the stadium.

Major League Baseball is entering the final weekend of the regular season, and there's no question about which series is the most crucial on paper. The Boston Red Sox will host the Detroit Tigers for three games beginning on Friday night,

The Guardians were unable to complete the sweep, falling to the Tigers Thursday at Progressive Field. Here's how the game unfolded.