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Jul 15, 2010 - 5:31 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

Detroit (48-38) at Cleveland (34-54), 7:05 p.m. EDT

In three of the previous four seasons, the Detroit Tigers have come out of the All-Star break as a contender for the AL Central title. Lackluster play, however, cost them the chance to finish atop the standings.

The sting of last season's missed opportunity is especially fresh, but the Tigers hope to put that behind them with a run to their first division title in 23 years, beginning with Friday night's opener of a four-game road series against the last-place Cleveland Indians.

The Tigers were 48-39 and held a 3 1/2-game lead over Chicago at last season's before going 38-37 in the second half. That allowed Minnesota to catch them on the season's final day and force a one-game playoff, which the Twins won 6-5 in 12 innings in Minneapolis.

That was reminiscent of 2006 when Detroit went 36-38 after the break and gave up the lead to the Twins on the season's final day. The Tigers, however, ended up with the wild card and won their first pennant since 1984 before losing in the World Series to St. Louis.

The following season, Detroit had a slim lead over Cleveland at the break, but faded with a 36-40 record and finished eight games back.

The Tigers (48-38) resume play set to battle Chicago and Minnesota for the title but could use better performances on the road, where they are 16-25. They split their only two games in Cleveland on May 8-9, but are 8-3 there since the beginning of last season and 20-6 overall against the Indians.

"You have to win some games on the road to contend," catcher Alex Avila told the Tigers' official website. "That's one thing to concentrate on into the second half."

Manager Jim Leyland said pitching could prove to be another key, and Max Scherzer's continued resurgence might help.

The right-hander will attempt to extend his career-best win streak to five on Friday, and is 5-2 with a 2.44 ERA since being recalled from Triple-A Toledo on May 30. He was sent there May 15 after going 1-4 with a 7.29 ERA in his first eight starts with the team, including a 7-4 loss on May 9 in Cleveland.

He gave up five runs and nine hits over five innings in his only career start against the Indians, but he'll face a different team in this outing. That could help Scherzer (6-6, 4.61 ERA) end a four-game road skid.

Grady Sizemore, Shin-Soo Choo and Asdrubal Cabrera are on the disabled list. Travis Hafner's status is unknown because of back stiffness, and Russell Branyan was dealt to Seattle on June 26.

With those absences, the Indians (34-54) are hoping to get some needed experience for their younger players.

"I just want these young kids to get out and play hard," manager Manny Acta told the Indians' official website. "We're going to get something out of it. We're going to be able to see who's going to join that core that we're building for the future."

Acta will start the second half with Jake Westbrook (5-5, 4.75) on the mound. The right-hander is 2-2 with a 5.36 ERA in his last seven starts but 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in two matchups with the Tigers this season - both in Detroit.

He's 1-3 with an 8.04 ERA in six career starts against the Tigers at Progressive Field but hasn't faced them there since Sept. 18, 2007.