Twins injuries could greatly benefit Tigers in heated AL Wild Card race

What once seemed to be an impossibility is now very much within reach from the Detroit Tigers, who have defied all odds and forced themselves into the playoff conversation in September.

With 18 games remaining in the regular season, the Tigers find themselves knotted with the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners in the middle of a tight American League Wild Card race. All three teams are just three games back of the Minnesota Twins for the third and final Wild Card spot, putting the Tigers in striking distance of a trip to the postseason, and a recent injury update out of Minneapolis may have improved Detroit's chances even further.

Twins injuries could greatly benefit Tigers in heated AL Wild Card race

As the Tigers aim to catch the Twins in both the AL Central division standings and the Wild Card race, a pair of Minnesota's star players remain out of the lineup with no set timetable for return.

Outfielder Byron Buxton, who has been on the injured list since Aug. 13 with right hip inflammation, suffered a setback last week that delayed his rehab stint, which was scheduled to begin over the weekend. Buxton's absence from the Twins' lineup is a significant one, as he has slashed .275/.334/.528 with 16 homers over 355 plate appearances this season.

The Twins have also been without another big bat in All-Star infielder Carlos Correa, who is suffering from plantar fasciitis in his right foot, since July 12. Correa had a strong first half, slashing .308/.377/.520 with 13 homers over 317 plate appearances before landing on the injured list.

The Twins are 6-14 over their last 20 games and are currently riding a four-game losing streak, and there is no set timeline for either Buxton or Correa to return. Meanwhile, the Tigers have won 13 of their last 20 and three of their last four. The AL Central rivals don't face each other again this season, but they will certainly be keeping tabs on one another down the stretch as Detroit looks to leapfrog the injury-depleted Twins in the playoff standings.

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