Gracious for receiving plenty of help from the White Sox down the stretch, the Detroit Tigers are now just one win away from wrapping up the American League Central title and another berth into Major League Baseball's postseason.
The Tigers increased their divisional lead on Sunday with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins to close out the series, dropping their magic number for the playoffs down to exactly one game. With the White Sox set to open a three-game series with Cleveland on Monday while Detroit takes on Kansas City, a mere Tigers victory or White Sox loss would be enough to send Jim Leyland's team to the playoffs.
Winners of seven of their last 10 games during a time when the White Sox were busy dropping nine of 11, the Tigers still managed to close the season on a high note despite having much of the pressure removed when it mattered most. Detroit remains in line to snag the No. 3 seed in the American League with a divisional victory barring a woeful collapse, and would then go on to host to the No. 2 seed from Comerica Park in Game 1.