The Indians (76-77) and Tigers (71-81) had big expectations for this season, but inconsistency will keep both out of the playoffs.

Cleveland won its fourth straight Friday, beating the Tigers 6-5 on Jamey Carroll's run-scoring single in the ninth. With a win Saturday, the Indians could move back to .500 for the first time since May 18.

Although neither team is playing for much other than pride, Friday's game got testy in the seventh inning when Indians starter Fausto Carmona hit Gary Sheffield in the left arm with a pitch. The Tigers' designated hitter walked to first while carrying his bat, glaring at Carmona and exchanging words with him.

When Carmona threw to first on a pickoff attempt, Sheffield motioned and yelled for him to throw the ball to the plate. Carmona took a step toward first and Sheffield charged the mound. The two exchanged punches before both dugouts and bullpens were emptied. By that time order had been restored and no more punches were thrown.

Sheffield and Carmona were ejected, along with Indians catcher Victor Martinez and Tigers second baseman Placido Polanco.

"I'm always going to protect my pitcher," said Martinez, who had advice for Sheffield: "Just shut your mouth and keep playing the game. You don't do anything after getting hit, then you do it at first base? Are you trying to get attention?

"I can't stand that."

Sheffield was just as vocal afterward.

"His act is tired," Sheffield said of Martinez. "All that macho, throwing your equipment off. All this stuff. Trust me. He doesn't want any of this. Trust me. If he does, just let me know, man to man and I guarantee he wouldn't want any more."

Cleveland has won five straight over Detroit, which has lost seven of its last eight overall.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland wasn't in the dugout for the loss after being suspended three games for "inappropriate conduct" earlier in the week.

Justin Verlander (10-16, 4.78 ERA) takes the mound Saturday for the Tigers, looking to avoid a fourth straight loss - and his major league-worst 17th of the season.

Verlander allowed four runs and nine hits over 7 2-3 innings against the White Sox on Sunday in a 4-2 loss.

The Tigers haven't had a 17-game loser since 2003 when it had three pitchers finish with at least 17. The right-hander won 17 games in 2006 and 18 in 2007.

Verlander is 1-6 with a 9.00 ERA in seven career road starts against the Indians. In five overall starts against them this season, he's 1-4 with a 6.16 ERA.

Jeremy Sowers (3-8, 5.70) counters for the Indians after he lasted only three innings on Sunday in a 13-3 loss to Kansas City. Sowers allowed three runs and five hits, but did not factor in the decision.

Sowers is 0-2 with a 10.24 ERA in two starts against Detroit this season. The left-hander didn't make it past the sixth inning in either start.