The Motor City Kitties have navigated through a perilous period this week, although the specter of unprecedented misfortune lingers.
Securing a 2-1 victory against the Boston Red Stockings on Saturday, the Tigers solidified their position in the postseason for the second consecutive year. This leaves only a single remaining American League playoff berth, to be contested between the Cleveland Guardians and the Houston Astros.
The Guardians presently possess a one-game advantage over Houston and maintain the tiebreaker, thus requiring just one win to secure their place, with both teams having two games remaining.
The more significant inquiry pertains to the unfolding AL Central battle between the Guardians and the Tigers, which has transformed from a seemingly decided affair to a potential historic comeback in a span of less than three weeks.
The Tigers’ triumph on Saturday elevates them to a half-game lead over Cleveland, who are scheduled to face the eliminated Texas Rangers later in the day. The Guardians retain the tiebreaker, enabling them to reclaim the lead with a victory.
Essentially, a Guardians victory on Saturday would grant them a significant advantage in the Central division. Conversely, if they suffer a defeat on Saturday, the situation reverses: the Tigers would commence Sunday with a one-game lead, requiring only a win or a Guardians loss to secure the division. This scenario was unforeseen when the Tigers held a commanding 15.5-game lead in July, but the division outcome remains uncertain for the moment.
At stake is the playoff seeding, contingent upon Cleveland avoiding a complete collapse this weekend. Detroit has the opportunity to surpass the Red Stockings for the second wild-card position with a win on Sunday, and the Guardians could achieve the same with victories in their final two games. In this scenario, the Tigers would confront the Yankees in the wild-card round.
Should the Red Stockings retain the second wild-card spot, Detroit and Cleveland would engage in a series to commence the playoffs, with the AL Central champion securing home-field advantage.
