The squads are starting a three-game weekend series with each hoping to extend its division lead. They also hold the two best records in MLB entering the day with the Tigers being the first team to 40 wins and the Cubs having the fewest losses among 39-win teams.

The Chicago Cubs came into Motown as the highest-scoring team in baseball, putting up 5.74 runs per game, one of only four teams touching the five-run plateau. However, they were limited to a run on nine hits while leaving six runners on base and going a rough 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position on Friday.