It's Go Time

The Detroit Tigers have had plenty of chances to extend their lead in the AL Central over the past week and a half as they played all of their games against the Kansas City Royals and the Toronto Blue Jays.

Sadly, things didn’t play out the way Tigers fans wanted them to as the Tigers went only 3-7 against that less-than-powerful duo.

They were on the brink of locking up the AL Central but now they are in a fight for the division title. The Tigers currently hold a four game lead over the Minnesota Twins.  However, they will kick off a three game series in Minnesota as the Tigers will play in the Metrodome for the last time ever…something Jim Leyland is cool with.

With the Tigers finding themselves in losing streaks lately, they’ve been forced to turn to their streak-stopper, Rick Porcello. Porcello seems to be getting better as the season progresses and the 20-year old will be going for his 14th win tonight. I don’t see how Porcello could possibly not be named Rookie of the Year.

The Tigers will start Porcello on Friday, Justin Verlander on Saturday and Nate Robertson will go on Sunday. Procello and Verlander are the only members of the rotation who have been pretty good all season long. Edwin Jackson has hit some road bumps lately, and don’t even get me started on Jarrod Washburn.

We’ll need some big performances from Porcello and Verlander to make this weekend a success. But if the Tigers get swept you’d have to consider the Twins the favorites in the division. But if they can steal two out of three then we’re all one step closer to sticking a fork in those pesky Twins.