MLB playoffs 2012: Tigers' ALDS opponent still unknown

The Detroit Tigers are headed to the postseason after clinching the AL Central on Monday night, but they don't know who they will be meeting there. The Tigers will be the No. 3 seed in the ALDS and could meet any one of the four other teams that have clinched playoff spots.

Detroit will face the No. 2 seed, but with both the AL East and AL West still up for grabs they may not know who that No. 2 seed will be until the last day of the regular season. The New York Yankees and Texas Rangers currently lead the AL East and AL West, and both teams hold a 93-67 record with two games remaining. The Baltimore Orioles and Oakland Athletics have each clinched playoff spots and currently sit one game back in their division races at 92-68. Depending on the how the final two days shake out, Detroit could end up playing any one of the four teams.

It is possible that Baltimore and New York end the season tied and play a one-game playoff in Baltimore on Oct. 4 to decide the AL East. Oakland and Texas play their last two games of the season against one another and cannot end the season tied. The Tigers will face the whichever one of the two division winners ends up with the lower record; that series is set to begin in Detroit on Oct. 6.