MLB Playoffs: 5 Reasons Detroit Tigers Could Spoil AL East Party

Now that the Detroit Tigers have locked up a playoff spot, nobody can look at them as an easy out anymore.

Only a few weeks ago, analysts were saying how lucky the team that draws the Tigers would be.

Well Detroit recently went on a 12-game winning streak, and now owns the second-best record in the American League.

They will likely draw a team from the AL East in the first round, and here's a look at why they could beat that team, whether it be the Red Sox or Rays.

5. The Red Sox Are Struggling Mightily

It is amazing how far the Red Sox have fallen in recent weeks.  Not long ago, they had the best record in the American League, but now they are just fighting for a playoff spot.

Even when they fell out of first place in the East, they still had a comfortable lead in the wild-card standings.

Well that lead has slowly began to disappear as the Rays have gotten hot.

If the Red Sox do hold off the Rays and win the Wild Card, it probably won't be pretty.

Unless Boston goes on a huge winning streak to end the regular season, they will likely enter the playoffs on a negative note.

This will bode well for the Tigers.  If they draw a slumping Boston team, they can certainly beat them.  The Red Sox's rotation has been horrible lately, and Detroit's big hitters can definitely take advantage.

Jon Lester and Josh Beckett are solid, but who knows who will start after those two.

4. The Tigers Know How To Win

Everybody remembers what happened in the 2006 playoffs when the Tigers went all the way to the World Series.

Not only does Jim Leyland have that experience, but the Tigers have recently gotten hot at the right time.

They are playing the best they have all year, as they are just coming off a 12-game winning streak.

That streak allowed them to pull away in the AL Central and become the first American League team to clinch a playoff berth.

We'll see if their recent success carries over into the playoffs.

3. The Tigers Are a Much Better Team Than the Rays

If the Tigers draw the Rays in the first round, they'll be in luck.

The Tigers fared very well against Tampa Bay in the regular season, and there's no reason to think they won't do the same if they meet in the playoffs.

If they do meet, the one thing that could give the Tigers trouble is the Rays rotation.  They could potentially throw out James Shields, Jeremy Hellickson and David Price as their top three guys, and that would give any offense trouble.

Other than that, though, there aren't too many things to be concerned about.  Their offense doesn't hit for average, but does have a few guys who can hit home runs, such as Longoria, Ben Zobrist, Matt Joyce and B.J. Upton.

If these two teams do meet in the first round, it would be very surprising if the Tigers didn't win the series.

2. Big Hitters

Everybody knows about Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez in the Tigers lineup, but there are plenty of other guys that have gotten the job done that nobody talks about.

For example, Alex Avila is currently hitting .297 with 19 homers and 77 RBI, numbers that are by far the best of any catcher in the AL.

Jhonny Peralta is hitting .300 with 19 home runs and 81 RBI, numbers that are probably only behind Asdrubal Cabrera's in the AL.

Heck, Ryan Raburn, who has mainly become a backup, even has 14 home runs.

It will be hard for any pitching staff to completely shut down this Tiger offense.

1. Justin Verlander

Everybody knew this would be No. 1.  It just has to be.  Justin Verlander could be the biggest key to the American League playoffs.

He is about as close to an automatic win as it gets.  In fact, without him, I'd say the Tigers don't have much of a chance of advancing past the first round.

No matter who he faces, whether it be the Rays or Red Sox, he will likely shut them down.  If he goes out and gives up three runs, which isn't too bad, it will be looked at as a horrible start.

If Jim Leyland decides to start Verlander twice in the first round, the Tigers would almost have to be favored to win the series.

They will probably be favored if they play the Rays regardless, but it will be extremely interesting to see what happens if they face Boston.