The Tigers are in first place in the A.L. Central with a 5-1 record, 1/2 a game ahead of the Twins. The Tigers have outscored their oppenents 35-22 so far this season as they have really been outstanding so far this season. But, all of there games so far have been against the Indians & Royals who are the whipping boys of the A.L. The good news is that the Tigers start another three game series at home against the Royals before heading out to Seattle for a three gamer against the Mariners. It should be another good week for the Tigers.

The Tigers should have swept the Royals in K.C. but two out of three ain’t bad. The Tigers outscored the Royals 17-10 as they hit and pitched well. The Tigers really demolished the bullpen of the Royals. The Royals’ pen was 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA and a 2.57 WHIP against the Tigers this week. The Tigers will need to start hitting a little earlier in games if they want to keep winning because outside of Joakim Soria the Royals have the worst pen in the A.L. The Indians are coming to town today and they also are 2-1 on the season so the first test for the Tigers comes this weekend.

With all of the injuries the bullpen has suffered, Zach Miner has stepped up and been an unsung hero this season for the Tigers.  He has worked 32 games (1 start) for the Tigers this season and he is 3-4 with a 2.98 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP.  He has pitched 51.1 innings and he has allowed 52 hits, walked 21 batters and whiffed 31.  The Tigers are now 83-70 which has them 7.5 games behind the Indians and 5 games behind the Yankees for the Wild Card.

The Detroit Tigers are 79-67 this season which has them in 2nd place in the American League Central, 6.5 games behind the Indians.  The Tigers best chance to make the playoffs will likely be winning the Wild Card as they are 4 games behind the Yankees.  The problem with that is that the Yanks are getting hot as they have won 6 games in a row.  The Tigers will need to be almost perfect the rest of the season to make the playoffs.

The Detroit Tigers are fading in the American League Central as the Cleveland Indians have gotten hot.  The Tigers are 73-64 on the season which has them in 2nd place in the American League Central, 6 games behind the Indians.  But the Tigers are 3rd in the Wild Card Standings, 2.5 games behind the Yankees and 1.5 games behind the Mariners.  So, if they get hot they will have a good chance to make the playoffs.  They will need better pitching to make a playoff run as only Justin Verlander has pitched well this season among the key pitchers on the Tigers as he is 15-5 with a 3.67 ERA so far this year.  The offense has been pretty darn good as they have scored 761 runs (5.6 runs per game) this season.  Magglio Ordonez is leading the way with an MVP type season as he is hitting .355 with 102 runs scored, 26 homers and 102 RBIs.  Curtis Granderson has been one of the most dangerous lead-off hitters in the majors this season as he is hitting .300 with 104 runs scored, 21 triples, 19 homers, 67 RBIs and 17 stolen bases.  Placido Polanco is also having an outstanding year as he is hitting .343 with 90 runs scored, 8 homers and 57 RBIs.  The Tigers really miss Gary Sheffield who is injured right now.