Detroit Tigers return to postseason for 4th straight year

By Phil Watson | Sep 24, 2014

Sep 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Andrew Romine (center) center fielder Rajai Davis (20) and right fielder Torii Hunter (right) celebrate after the game against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park. Detroit won 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

The Detroit Tigers are returning to the playoffs for a franchise-record fourth consecutive season.

Detroit officially punched its ticket Wednesday night when the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Seattle Mariners 1-0 in Toronto.

That came after the Tigers beat the Chicago White Sox 6-1 Wednesday afternoon.

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Detroit came into Wednesday with a 1½-game lead over the Kansas City Royals in the American League Central, but has clinched no worse than a wild-card spot.

If they hang on to win the AL Central, the Tigers can be no better than the No. 3 seed in the AL. The Los Angeles Angels lead the Baltimore Orioles for the top spot by 3½ games.

Detroit (88-70) has persevered despite sub-par seasons from the two players who have the last three MVP awards—Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander.

Of course, “sub-par” for Cabrera holds a very different meaning than it does for most players. He is hitting .312/.372/.517 with 23 homers and 106 RBI in 155 games and has stroked 51 doubles.

Verlander improved to 15-12 by allowing a run over eight innings against the White Sox Wednesday, lowering his ERA to 4.54. In 32 starts, Verlander has a WHIP of 1.398, the second-highest of his career.

But Victor Martinez became the oldest player in MLB history to record his first 30-homer, 100-RBI season, hitting .334/.408/.562 with 31 homers and 100 RBI in 147 games, and rookie Nick Castellanos has proven an adequate replacement for Cabrera at third base, hitting .263/.310/.395 with 10 homers and 63 RBI in 144 games.

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