Detroit Tigers Will Inevitably Turn Season Around, Win Division Title

The Detroit Tigers will win the American League Central Division. 

Yes, the Tigers have scuffled to a 30-33 record through over 1/3 of the 2012 season, and currently sit in third place, four games back of the Chicago White Sox for the division lead. 

But as the unanimous favorites to run away with the division crown, there's no doubt the defending AL Central champs will rebound and make back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since 1934 and 1935. 

The Tigers boast the best pitcher on the planet, two of the best hitters the game has ever seen, and a solid group of young talent, giving Detroit a much-needed surge of energy that will help carry it to the pennant.

Justin Verlander earned the win on the hill against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday afternoon, ending a rare streak that didn't see him earn a win since May 18--four straight starts.

Verlander, who improved to 6-4 this season, has a 2.66 ERA, and leads the Major Leagues in innings pitched and strikeouts, while receiving the worst run support in baseball. The Tigers ace has pitched at least six innings in his last 56 starts. 

The $214 million investment in Prince Fielder is beginning to pay dividends as well. Fielder has hit safely in 18 of his last 19 games, and has an on-base percentage of .383 this month. 

His resurgence after a mediocre start to the season, is due in part to the resurrection of the defending AL batting champion, Miguel Cabrera, who's hit four home runs already this month, and is on pace for 34 home runs and 131 RBI's this season. 

Both Cabrera and Fielder went through lulls at the plate in April, but have found their chemistry, and both gotten into a groove at the dish, which obviously bodes well for the players around them. 

Austin Jackson's return to the lineup has definitely given the Tigers a boost at the top of the lineup. Since coming off the disabled list on June 9, after missing 21 games with an abdomen injury, Detroit's leadoff hitter has six hits and five RBI's in five games. 

Jackson's season average is now .323 (.400 OBP). 

While Jackson was on the DL, he was replaced by rookie Quintin Berry, who hasn't missed a beat. In just 21 games, Berry leads the team in stolen bases, and is hitting .296 (.383 OBP) during his first tour of duty in the Major Leagues. 

Berry, along with several other tough, young players, have given the Tigers a shot of adrenaline the team desperately needed, and have led the charge in what looks like a looming turnaround. 

"That's what we've got to do -- we've got to start winning two out of three," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said to the Detroit Free Press after Detroit's 5-3 win over the Cubs on Thursday afternoon. "That's how you crawl back into the thing." 

With Thursday's win, the Tigers won four of the last five games, clinched their first winning road trip since mid April and enter a favorable stretch to close out interleague play against the Colorado Rockies, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The Tigers have dominated National League teams the past few seasons, and the next three opponents, which have an 89-99 record combined, could give Detroit the springboard it needs going into the All-Star break.

Detroit returns home for the weekend, welcoming the struggling Rockies to Comerica Park. Colorado has lost eight consecutive games going into Friday, and are 9-17 on the road this season. 

Detroit has started to get contributions from the guys it expected to, and has received key production from a couple under-the-radar players, to boot.

If the Tigers get consistent performances from the middle of the rotation, the bottom third of the batting lineup, and from some struggling hurlers in the bullpen, Detroit will find itself where the whole world saw the team prior to the season:

In first place in the division with their eyes on another appearance in the ALCS.