Examining the remaining Detroit Tigers schedule

As the leaves begin to turn yellow, we are signaled that fall is upon us. For many that means its time to bust out their favorite windbreaker that their Aunt Barb gave them for Christmas last year. But for people like myself, fall means that the baseball season is coming to a close.

The Detroit Tigers now have 16 games remaining in their schedule; 6 on the road and 10 at home. And all of those 16 games are against AL Central teams. They currently sit at a 80-66 record and are 1 game back from the Kansas City Royals for the top of the AL Central.

More from Detroit Tigers News

• Detroit Tigers: Victor Reyes finding ways to get the job done
• The Detroit Tigers must cut their losses and release Jonathan Schoop
• Detroit Tigers: Garrett Hill’s new role and changed delivery are excellent
• Detroit Tigers: Joe Jiménez has rebounded in 2022
• Detroit Tigers: Is it finally time to move the fences in at Comerica Park?

Starting on Friday, the Cleveland Indians (74-69) will roll into the Motor City for a three game set with the Tigers. If all goes according to plan, David Price, Kyle Lobstein, and Justin Verlander will face Cleveland. Detroit faced the Indians just a little over a week ago in Cleveland and were able to take 3 0ut of the 4 games from the Tribe. This season, the Tigers are 8-8 against the Indians. This is the final time the Tigers and Indians face each other this season.

Then, beginning on Monday, the Tigers will set out on a 6 game road trip, first stopping in Minneapolis to play the Minnesota Twins (62-82) for 3 games. The Tigers are an even 6-6 against the Twins this season. Though the record shows the teams as being even, the Twins have given the Tigers a tough time this year. In those 12 games, Twins batters have scored 76 runs and have a collective .286 BA against Tigers pitchers. Tigers batters, though, have a collective .325 BA against Minnesota pitching while racking up 146 hits in those dozen games.

Aug 24, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier (2) tags Detroit Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez (28) out at second in the second inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Then the Tigers head on down to the hottest state on the face of earth and face the Kansas City Royals (80-64) in what should be one of the most crucial series of the entire season. These two teams have been battling each other all season long and this 3 game set  set in the Show-Me State will mark their last regular season meeting of 2014. Not much needs to be said about this team other than the fact that the Tigers and Royals are much like the Hatfields and McCoys except no firearms or horses have been used up to this point. Former Tiger Omar Infante has 12 RBI’s and a .317 BA in 60 AB’s against Detroit this year.

” JD Martinez has a mind boggling .463 BA, 5 HR’s, and 15 RBI against Kansas City this season”

Fast forward to the 22nd of September and the Tigers are back in Motown for 7 games; 3 against the Chicago White Sox (65-80) and 4 against the Twins.

In 16 games against the White Sox this season the Tigers are 8-8. No more Adam Dunn to deal with but sadly Jose Abreu is still sporting the black and white stripes. Being the absolute monster that he is, Abreu has a .433 BA against Detroit, along with 5 HR’s and only 12 SO’s. But the Tigers pitching staff has been quietly dominant against the White Sox, striking out 136 Chi-Town batters in 558 AB’s. This will be the final series of the regular season for Detroit.

As for the Kansas City Royals, they have 18 games remaining, including a double header against the Indians. Of those 18 games, 10 of them are at home. 7 of those games are against the White Sox; 4 are against the Boston Red Sox. The rest of the matchups are filled in by AL Central opponents, including the Tigers as mentioned before. The Royals will finish their season on Sunday the 28th in Chicago.

This is what baseball is all about and the pennant race is as hot as ever-