Detroit Tigers still hunting for a wild-card miracle

The Detroit Tigers are clawing their way back into playoff contention and while FanGraphs gives them just a 7.1% chance to make the postseason, there’s still hope in the Motor City.

Sitting at 75-72 after Thursday's loss to the lowly Colorado Rockies, the Tigers trail the Minnesota Twins by 3.5 games for the final wild-card spot . Detroit faces pivotal matchups down the stretch, with three games against the Kansas City Royals and six against the Baltimore Orioles.

It’s a long shot, but every year, a team stumbles down the stretch. Could it be the Tigers’ turn to shock the baseball world?

If the club can knock off Kansas City, they’ll cause a few ripples. But taking down the Orioles could lead to a seismic shift in the playoff race, one that could send Detroit barreling into October.

Tarik Skubal, arguably the best pitcher in the American League, has served as the backbone of the Tigers' resurgence. With a 2.53 ERA, Skubal is the clear favorite for the Cy Young Award, according to DraftKings ( -5000 ).

The Tigers’ pitching staff as a whole has been stellar, ranking second in the AL with a 3.67 ERA (trailing only the Seattle Mariners’ vaunted staff). The bullpen has also stepped up, ranking fifth in strikeouts , which means once they get a lead, they’re tough to beat.

On offense, Riley Greene is the catalyst. The 23-year-old center fielder has an impressive 4.8 bWAR, with 21 homers and an .844 OPS in 122 games played. Greene has delivered in key moments at the plate while playing above-average defense in the outfield.

Shortstop Javier Baez — who recently had season-ending hip surgery — disappointed this season, but Greene has helped keep the Tigers in the fight.

Yet, for the Tigers to make a serious push, they’ll need Spencer Torkelson to rediscover his August form. The young slugger slashed .308/.368/.577 for a .945 OPS in 57 plate appearances last month, but September has been a different story. Batting just .125 this month, Torkelson must heat up again and perform like the player the Tigers expected when they made him a No. 1 overall pick in 2020.

It’s a tall order, but the Tigers have the tools to control their own fate. They’re playing meaningful baseball in September, a victory in itself, but moral victories don’t seem to be enough for this team. With a strong core and the league's best pitcher, Detroit has the talent to shake up the playoff race.

The path is clear. Now, it’s all about whether the Tigers can seize the moment.