Here's how Tigers need to fare after All-Star break to avoid trade deadline fire sale

The Tigers ended their first half on the high note they desperately needed. They posted an American League-best 22-14 record from June 1 through July 12, dragging themselves up from 11.5 games back of the then-division leader Guardians and seven games back of the last Wild Card spot, to 6.5 games back of the current division leaders Guardians and White Sox and just 3.5 games back of the last Wild Card spot.

By the time they take the field again on Friday night, there'll be less than three weeks to go before the trade deadline — five series (16 games) that could make or break their season.

Detroit will see the Angels, Cubs, Royals, Orioles, and Athletics before the Aug. 3 deadline. Only the Cubs ended their first half with a winning record, and the Orioles are ahead of the Tigers in the Wild Card standings by 1.5 games.

If the Tigers end up selling, they likely won't decide to do so until the last possible second. Even if they going into the beginning of August still a couple games out of the Wild Card, Scott Harris and the front office could decide to hang onto their assets anyway and bet on their team to get them to October anyway.

Of course, fans would much prefer a clear-cut answer instead of having to anxiously refresh Twitter every 30 seconds on deadline day. The Tigers just need to keep winning.

Tigers have the second-easiest strength of schedule going into the second half

According to stathead Thomas Nestico, the Tigers have the second-easiest remaining strength of schedule this season. The five series before the deadline are kind of the perfect microcosm — three of those five teams are the only three teams with worse records than the Tigers in the AL.

Just to even out at a .500 record, the Tigers would have to go 12-4 over this stretch. Getting to .500 might not be a requirement, given that the Mariners are sitting in the last Wild Card spot a game under .500, but it would certainly provide a lot of reassurance.

The key series will be against the Orioles, who are 46-51, two games out of the Wild Card and 1.5 games up from the Tigers. Putting together at least one sweep will be required to get the Tigers to that 12-4 record, and it should be of Baltimore. Detroit hasn't been swept themselves since the very end of May by the White Sox, and they desperately need it keep it that way.

There is almost zero margin for error here. The Tigers have 16 games to prove that they don't need to sell off their ace and any number of extra rental pieces, to prove they can still compete and make a real postseason run. Let's get it.

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