On this day, three years ago, Detroit led the Minnesota Twins by five games in the AL Central. The Twins were in third place at the time. We all know how that ended up — Twins won the Division with Detroit earning the Wild Card. Despite the Tigers downfall in September, there was never really any sense of urgency or cause for concern. Most fans felt pretty comfortable that Detroit was, in some fashion, going to the post-season for the first time in nearly two decades.
Fast forward to this season and you’ll find the Detroit Tigers leading the Minnesota Twins by a more minute advantage, 3.5 games. Unlike 2006, Detroit must win the division to make the post-season because the Wild Card race appears to be out of reach (Detroit trails Boston by 7 games). With a little over a month remaining in the season, Detroit finds itself in the tightest pennant race in all of baseball.
While as fans we’d probably prefer to have the 2006 feeling of knowing we’ll most likely be in the playoffs no matter what, nothing really beats the excitement of a pennant race. I mean, every single game from here on out is scrutinized like it’s already the playoffs. You can’t ask for much more than October baseball in the month of September.
So buckle up fans, because this is going to be a thrilling four week ride to the finish line. Here is a breakdown of the final four and a half weeks for the Tigers and Twins — just be careful not to wet your pants.
| Date | Detroit Tigers’ opponents | Minnesota Twins’ opponents |
| Sept 2 | vs. Cleveland Indians | vs. Chicago White Sox |
| Sept 3 | vs. Cleveland Indians |
OFF |
| Sept 4-6 | @ Tampa Bay Rays | @ Cleveland Indians |
| Sept 7 | OFF | @ Toronto Blue Jays |
| Sept 8-10 | @ Kansas City Royals | @ Toronto Blue Jays |
| Sept 11-13 | vs. Toronto Blue Jays | vs. Oakland A’s |
| Sept 14 | vs. Toronto Blue Jays | vs. Cleveland Indians |
| Sept 15-16 | vs. Kansas City Royals | vs. Cleveland Indians |
| Sept 17 | vs. Kansas City Royals | OFF |
| Sept 18-20 | @ Minnesota Twins | vs. Detroit Tigers |
| Sept 21 | OFF | @ Chicago White Sox |
| Sept 22-23 | @ Cleveland Indians | @ Chicago White Sox |
| Sept 24 | @ Cleveland Indians | OFF |
| Sept 25-27 | @ Chicago White Sox | @ Kansas City Royals |
| Sept 28-Oct 1 | vs. Minnesota Twins | @ Detroit Tigers |
| Oct 2-4 | vs. Chicago White Sox | vs. Kansas City Royals |
Go Tigers!
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