close
close

first Drop

Com TW NOw News 2024

    • Wildcard odds, what needs to happen?
    news

    Wildcard odds, what needs to happen?

    Vaseline Posted on

    The Detroit Tigers (83-74) began a six-game home series Tuesday with a chance to clinch a spot in the MLB playoffs, and their position appears to be improving with each passing day.

    The home games began with the Tigers winning 2-1 over the Rays in a pitch duel, leaving them one win shy of securing a spot in October.

    Here’s what you need to know as the post-season race comes to a close:

    The Tigers’ magic number is a bit complicated. To beat the Minnesota Twins and make the playoffs, the Tigers’ magic number is 5meaning they need a combination of five wins or losses by the team behind them in the standings — in this case, the Minnesota Twins — to reach the postseason. The Tigers (83-74) hold a 1½-game lead over the Twins (81-75), a two-game lead over the Seattle Mariners and a half-game lead over the Kansas City Royals for the second AL wild-card spot (with the Royals holding the tiebreaker).

    This means that the Tigers technically have multiple different magic numbers. For the Royals the magic number is 6, to eliminate the Twins the magic number is 5, but it’s not that simple as the Red Sox, Mariners and even the Rays can technically overtake the Tigers and Twins if they both lose a couple of games in the final period.

    The Tigers enter the stretch as one of the best teams in baseball, having gone 13-5 and winning five straight series in September. A combination of elite pitching and clutch hitting, with manager AJ Hinch pulling the strings, has put them in a strong position. And the Tigers further increased the chips Monday by calling up MLB’s top pitching prospect, Jackson Jobe, to join the bullpen for the postseason hunt.

    JOBE TIME: Jackson Jobe to Detroit Tigers? Oh man, this awesome week just got better

    Below is a complete breakdown of the Tigers’ wild card magic number scenarios.

    Detroit Tigers schedule

    TICKETS FOR DETROIT TIGERS: Awards for the final six games of the MLB playoff push at Comerica Park

    Minnesota Twins Schedule

    • Twins vs. Miami Marlins (57-99) on Tuesday-Thursday.
    • Twins vs. Baltimore Orioles (86-70) on Friday-Sunday.

    Kansas City Royals Schedule

    • Royals at Washington Nationals (69-87) on Tuesday-Thursday.
    • Royals at Atlanta Braves (85-71) on Friday-Sunday.

    Seattle Mariners Schedule

    • Mariners at Houston Astros (85-72) on Tuesday-Wednesday.
    • Mariners vs. Oakland Athletics (67-89) on Friday-Sunday.

    Boston Red Sox Schedule

    • Red Sox at Toronto Blue Jays (73-84) on Tuesday-Wednesday.
    • Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays (78-78) on Friday-Sunday.

    How MLB Wild Card Tiebreakers Work

    The recent introduction of tiebreakers, instead of a 163rd game to settle ties, complicates the Tigers’ magic numbers equation. The tiebreakers are determined based on head-to-head records, meaning the Tigers are technically a game behind the Royals after losing the season series 7-6 and must finish a game ahead of the Twins, who also won the season series against Detroit 7-6.

    The math goes even deeper in this crazy wild-card race. As the Free Press’ weekly newsletter pointed out Monday, the Tigers have magic numbers relative to the rest of the teams still in the wild-card race, depending on how the final six games play out.

    “The Tigers really have a magic number set, I think: 10 with Baltimore, 7 with Kansas City, 6 with Minnesota, 4 with Seattle, 3 with Tampa Bay, 2 with Boston,” said former Free Press sports editor Gene Myers.

    The Tragic Number of the Detroit Tigers

    The Tigers’ elimination rate, or “tragic number,” is 7 entering the final week.

    Tragic numbers work in the opposite way of magic numbers. Seven combined Tigers losses and Twins wins would eliminate the Tigers from the playoffs, assuming the Royals maintain their position over the Tigers.

    Jared Ramsey is a sports reporter for the Detroit Free Press covering the city’s professional teams, the state’s two major universities, and more. Follow Jared on X @jared_ramsey22and email him at [email protected].

    Vaseline
    View all posts

    You Might Also Like