The Detroit Tigers are heading back to the playoffs again after defeating the Minnesota Twins on the road and while they didn't yet clinch the AL Central division title, they are just one victory away from doing so.
According to ESPN.com, the Tigers pulled out a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Twins to move closer to winning the division title and now they know that with their 92-66 record, they will be going to the playoffs no matter what. The team likely will win the division title, but so far they have only clinched a playoff spot, as the Indians are technically still alive for the division and they could be in as a wild card.
The Indians are currently in the second playoff spot, one game ahead of Texas, while the Tigers are 4.5 games ahead of Cleveland in the division. The Indians have been hanging tight all summer and now the team is still alive after pulling out a win on Tuesday as well over the White Sox, winning after coming back in the ninth inning to take the victory. The Tigers likely will win the division for the third season in a row, but they have to win to do it.
The Tigers could have clinched with their win and a loss by the Indians, but obviously the comeback nullified any chance of that. The team made it to the World Series last season and now they will be back in the playoffs, although it's not certain what spot they will be in. Barring a sudden collapse, the team should be winners of the Central division and that will keep them out of the wild car round game.
Last season Texas blew what seemed like an insurmountable lead to the Athletics to end up in the wild card game and they lost to the Oakland Athletics and were out of the playoffs. The Tigers defeated the Athletics and the Yankees to get to the World Series, but they couldn't win a game against the Giants, who won their second title in three seasons, although this year they have a losing record.
The rest of the playoffs are fairly set, as the Boston Red Sox and the Oakland Athletics have clinched division titles, while the Rays and Indians are currently in the playoffs just ahead of Texas in the Wild Card. The Tigers are in first in the central, while the NL is all finished up with five teams in, although the central and the wild card will be split up between the Cardinals, Pirates and Reds, while the Braves and Dodgers are division winners.
