The Detroit Tigers have used a fast start to make them a virtual lock to reach the playoffs this season. But with the season winding down, their World Series hopes could hinge on a strong finish.
The Tigers own an 8.5-game lead over the Kansas City Royals heading into Monday’s action, and they’re a half-game back of the Toronto Blue Jays for home-field advantage in the American League playoffs.
With the season winding down, each game is important in regard to playoff positioning and getting ready for the final stretch, which makes three series against the New York Yankees, Cleveland Guardians, and Boston Red Sox a must-win situation as they head toward the playoffs.
Tigers at New York Yankees (Sept. 9-11)
There’s no better time than the present to establish momentum for the first three weeks, and the Tigers have a big opportunity when they travel to face the New York Yankees beginning Tuesday. The Tigers took two out of three games from the Yankees during a series in Detroit last April, but the stakes are higher as both teams enter with playoff ramifications.
The Yankees enter the series with a five-game cushion over the final Wild Card spot and are just two games back of the Blue Jays. While they don’t need these games to make the playoffs, they could need them in the AL East race with 19 games remaining. If they can catch Toronto for the division lead, they could immediately become a threat to the Tigers’ bid for home-field advantage and could earn the tiebreaker if they score a sweep in the Bronx this week.
Winners of seven of their past 10 games, the Yankees are playing some of their best baseball, and it would be wise for the Tigers to knock them down a peg before a potential October rematch.
Tigers vs. Cleveland Guardians (Sept. 16-18)
The Guardians are still well behind the Tigers in the AL Central race, but their hand is sticking out of the grave as they look to claim one of the final Wild Card spots.
Cleveland enters Tuesday 2.5 games behind the Seattle Mariners for the final playoff spot in the American League, but needs to jump the Kansas City Royals (2.0 games back), the Texas Rangers (1.5 games back), and the Seattle Mariners to make it happen. In addition to the Wild Card hopes, Cleveland could also make up some serious ground against the Tigers in the division if Detroit doesn’t take care of business.
With a 4-3 record against the Guardians, Detroit could go a long way toward cementing their division crown by taking two of three games against the Guardians next week. If they don’t, it could set up an intriguing rematch between the two teams in Cleveland from Sept. 23-25.
Tigers at Red Sox (Sept. 26-28)
Much like the battle with the Yankees this week, the final series of the season could go a long way toward determining playoff positioning. The Red Sox are behind New York in the standings, sitting 3.5 games behind the Blue Jays but 3.5 games over the Mariners entering Monday. But they also could be a desperate team before the Tigers visit for the final game of the season.
There’s a chance that Boston could have a playoff spot locked up and locked into a Wild Card spot. But the Tigers will need to win this series to either avoid sliding into the third division winner seed (and out of the first-round bye that comes with the top two spots) or a matchup that doesn’t work to their advantage in October.
Taking two out of three games against a good team would also be the perfect tune-up for the playoffs, with a chance to carry some momentum into October. Either way, the Tigers will have to find a way to win games down the stretch, return to health, and keep the cards in their favor ahead of the postseason.