The Tigers were in a huge slide around the MLB All-Star Break. Thanks to losing its final four games heading into the league-wide pause, and dropping eight of the team’s next nine games coming out of it, optimism was starting to wane around the Motor City.

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The Philadelphia Phillies and Detroit Tigers square off Thursday night at Citizens Bank Park in what could be a tone-setting Game 1 for both clubs. With the trade deadline now in the rearview and the stretch run officially underway,