The Braves may have just played a role in spoiling Detroit’s season. Oh, and they’re also on a big hot streak. Go figure.

DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers are in must-win mode as they play their final home game of the regular season on Sunday afternoon. The Tigers (85-70) have lost five straight and eight of their last nine. The Atlanta Braves (72-83) are trying to extend a seven-game winning streak.

Ha-Seong Kim homered and drove in two runs as the Atlanta Braves won their eighth straight game with a 6-2 win over the slumping Detroit Tigers on Sunday.

Morton, 41, had a 7.09 ERA since coming to the Tigers at the trade deadline. His most recent outing was his biggest blowup yet. Morton surrendered six earned runs and lasted only 1 1/3 innings as the Tigers’ late-season free fall continued.

Saturday's loss dropped the Tigers to 85-70. The Guardians, who subtracted Shane Bieber at the trade deadline, are 83-71. Thanks to that series next week, the Guardians control their own destiny. If they win their final eight games, they will win the AL Central.

That reality, the Tigers designated Morton for assignment Sunday, became inevitable Friday night after Morton lasted just 1.1 innings with six runs of damage on his ledger against the Braves. Over his last five starts with the Tigers, he'd given up 22 earned runs in 17 innings.

The Detroit Tigers are in the midst of a complete and utter collapse, suffering a second straight sweep and now losing nine of their last 10.

A large part of their identity was ball control, and it showed against South Carolina. Mizzou won the time of possession battle by almost 11 minutes, and the Tigers ran for 285 yards in a 29-20 win. On the other hand, South Carolina rushed for minus-9 yards.