Jason Kipnis, Nick Swisher celebrate

The Tribe (44-38) leads the Detroit Tigers (43-38) by one-half game in the AL Central.

(Associated Press)

Manager Terry Francona's Indians are fired up and in first place on July 1. Now comes the hard part: Can they sustain?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- What did not seem possible on June 10 became a reality: The Indians were alone in first place on July 1.

The Tribe (44-38) leads the Detroit Tigers (43-38) by one-half game in the AL Central. While the Tribe had an off-day Monday in advance of a three-game series in Kansas City, Mo., the Tigers lost at Toronto.

On June 10, the Indians lost at Texas to fall to 30-33. They were tied with the Royals in second place, 5 1/2 games back of Detroit. The defeat June 10 was the Indians' eighth straight. They are 14-5 since, including a current four-game winning streak.

Do the Indians have staying power? Can they challenge for the division, and, if not, a wild card?

It did not happen the previous two seasons, when the Tribe had similar records through three months.

Through July 1, 2011, the Indians were 43-37 and led the Central by one-half game over Detroit. They finished 80-82, second place, 15 games back of the Tigers.

Through July 1, 2012, the Indians were 40-38, second place, 1 1/2 games back of the White Sox and 1 1/2 games clear of third-place Detroit. They finished 68-94, fourth place, 20 games back of champion Detroit.

The Tribe optimist will submit that this edition is different -- from the manager to many of the players. The pessimist will submit that this is Cleveland.

Here is a capsule look at the case for and against the Indians being able to hang in the race for the final three months:

Case for: The Tigers have issues, especially in the bullpen. Closers are overrated -- until a club doesn't have one. The Tigers are blowing games late, and it is having a trickle-down effect. Detroit is five games above .500 despite a combined 145 RBI from Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder and a 12-0 record from Max Scherzer.

Case against: The Tigers are loaded. As such, they are too good to keep slogging and will crank it up again. They have veterans who know how to win. Cabrera and Fielder are doing what they do; no reason it can't continue. Even if Scherzer doesn't finish undefeated, Justin Verlander (8-5, 3.77 ERA) is overdue to return to his dominant self. Detroit's bullpen can't possibly be this bad.

Case for: Terry Francona. Last October, Indians President Mark Shapiro and General Manager Chris Antonetti brought in a proven winner to be their manager. Francona was hugely successful in Boston, highlighted by two World Series rings in a four-year span (2004, 2007). Players love going to work for Francona, whose attributes include knowing how to keep a club together during the inevitable rough times.

Case against: Francona does not play. Managers can only do so much. Even with Francona as manager, the Indians already have had several pronounced skids.

Case for: The Indians have not played their best baseball. Tribe personnel felt the same way the previous two years, but this one is different because the roster significantly has been upgraded from 2011-2012. None of the newcomers -- notably, high-priced free agents Michael Bourn or Nick Swisher -- is playing out of his shoes. The Indians are in first place despite just two regulars sniffing .300 (Bourn, Jason Kipnis, .299); two players with 40-plus RBI (Kipnis, 51; Mark Reynolds, 46); and one pitcher with more than six victories (starter Justin Masterson, 10).

The Indians are in first despite injuries to their All-Stars from 2011-2012, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and closer Chris Perez, and to Swisher, Bourn, starter Zach McAllister and setup man Vinnie Pestano.

Case against: The Indians aren't capable of playing much better because their roster lacks star power. They don't have anyone close to Miggy and Prince, or Scherzer and Verlander -- guys who can carry clubs for multiple months in a row. Most Tribe players, when healthy, are performing at levels/efficiencies achieved in recent seasons or over their careers. Kipnis, the notable exception, can't be expected to maintain his ridiculous June production rate.

The Indians have been susceptible to losing stretches in part because their rotation does not possess elite arms that can be counted on as stoppers. They don't have starters who make opponents nervous. And the inability to get deep into games on a consistent basis puts too much pressure on the bullpen.

Injuries happen. Every team endures injuries.

Case for: The Indians are versatile and deep. They have received contributions up and down the roster, instead of relying on a handful. They feature 11 players with 20-plus RBI. They are much better equipped to defeat left-handed pitching. Their bench, which includes Mike Aviles and Ryan Raburn, is a considerable upgrade over the previous two years.

Case against: They still need more All-Star caliber players.

Case for: The Indians have their bullpen back. The law firm of Perez, Pestano and Joe Smith, so solid at the back end in the previous two years, is healthy together for the first time since early April. All Tribe relievers, having returned to their roles, should be much better in the second half.

Case against: Bullpens offer no guarantees of success. Perez has not fully regained his velocity, though he has been sharp in his past two appearances. Even when Perez, Pestano and Smith are right, the Tribe bullpen might struggle because it lacks matchup lefties.

Case for: The schedule is easier. The Indians are done with the Blue Jays in Toronto; the Rangers in Texas; the Orioles in Baltimore; and the Yankees, Rays, Red Sox, Reds and Nationals.

Case against: The Indians have plenty of games remaining against Detroit, young-and-hungry Kansas City and the dangerous, albeit underachieving, Angels. They have home series against Toronto, Texas and Baltimore and a road set against Oakland.

Case for: Help is on the way. Antonetti will deliver an impact arm, at a minimum, before the non-waiver trade deadline of July 31. He will do so because Francona is the manager. Francona did not come to Cleveland to watch the front office stand pat at the deadline. Antonetti will not burden him with Lars Anderson.

Case against: Every contender wants quality pitching, and it is in short supply. The Indians don't have the prospects to withstand a bidding war for the likes of Matt Garza.