For the majority of the 2013 season, the Detroit Tigers have had difficulty pinpointing which team would give them a run in the American League Central Division.
After pushing the Tigers to the brink in 2012, the Chicago White Sox began the season as the favorites to challenge the defending AL champions, but an abysmal stretch to start the season kept growing, and turned into a rebuilding year for the boys from the South Side.
Kansas City was another intriguing pick to battle the Tigers, as they sent Wil Meyers, one of the top prospects in the game, to Tampa Bay to acquire starting pitcher James Shields. The Royals didn't have the first half they were hoping for, but came out of the All-star break on fire. After winning a series against Detroit right out of the gate, Kansas City ripped off a 17-3 stretch that hinted they would be the toughest AL Central team to put away.
However, they forgot about Cleveland.
An Indians team that is known for hot first-half baseball was doing it again, but this year fans weren't so quick to believe in them. After being swept by Detroit four games at home in early August and falling as many as eight games behind on August 10th, it looked like Cleveland was going to fade away once again; but this year's team has something the last few haven't: Terry Francona.
Francona and his team have continued to battle, and while the Indians from the last few years would have collapsed under an eight-game deficit, this year's team has fought back. Currently, after sweeping the Los Angeles Angels in California, the Indians are within striking distance, just 5.5 games behind the Tigers.
Kansas City, on the other hand, is going the other way. After sweeping a day-night doubleheader in Detroit on August 16, the Royals dropped the last two games of the five-game series and haven't won since. They find themselves 9.5 games out of the AL Central lead with just 37 games remaining. That means even if the Tigers go 19-19 against an easy schedule the rest of the season, the Royals would have to finish 29-8 to win the division.
In other words, if someone is going to catch the Tigers, it's going to be the Indians; and if they're going to make a move, it's going to have to come in the next few games.
In fact, if Cleveland hasn't pulled closer to the Tigers after the next four series, then the defending AL Central champs will win the division once again. Both teams have their toughest three remaining series coming up, including the final head-to-head battle in Detroit.
When the Indians visit Detroit for the last time at the end of August, they need to find a way to win the series. The Tigers have dominated the Indians all season, and if Cleveland can't make up ground head-to-head against the team they're chasing, they have virtually no chance to catch up.
There is one unique thing about this series, however. Besides games against the Royals, each team will play the only winning teams remaining on their schedules before and after the showdown in Detroit. As a result, the crucial three-game series is expanded to a crucial nine-game stretch for the Tribe.
Cleveland will fly to Atlanta before visiting Detroit, to take on the best team in baseball. The Braves are the only team with a winning percentage over .600, and currently own a 15-game lead in the NL East. From Detroit, the Indians will return home for a series against the Orioles, who currently sit just 1/2 game behind them in the wildcard standings.
Detroit will be at home waiting for the Tribe, as they host the Oakland Athletics in Comerica Park for a four-game series that leads into the AL Central showdown. Afterwards, the Tigers will travel to Fenway Park to play the Red Sox, a potential battle for the top seed in the American League.
If the Indians haven't cut the lead to three or four games by the time the Tigers fly out of Boston, then there will be little hope remaining in their division title aspirations. During the last month, each team will play the Royals and White Sox six times. Cleveland will host the Mets and the Astros while the Tigers play Seattle and Miami, and both teams will play one last set in Minnesota.
Considering the strength of the Detroit pitching staff, a slump against competition of that caliber is unlikely, so the Indians will want to make up most of their ground around Labor Day.
Cleveland's 7-3 stretch since losing six straight has put them right back in the thick of the wildcard race. They trail only Oakland and Tampa Bay, two teams that have much more difficult schedules remaining. If the Indians want to avoid the risky one-game wildcard, though, they will have to catch the Tigers.
Midwestern baseball fans should enjoy the next two weeks, because the AL Central could be playing its home stretch a month early.
Back to the Detroit Tigers Newsfeed