The Detroit Tigers have officially made history, and not in a good way. What was once a commanding 15.5-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians has evaporated, and now the Tigers trail Cleveland by one game in the American League Central with just four left to play. To make matters worse, the Guardians hold the tiebreaker.
Still, the Tigers aren’t out of it. They remain one game ahead of the Houston Astros for the final American League Wild Card spot, and thanks to owning the tiebreaker over Houston, they still control their own destiny.
But here’s the question that’s been popping up everywhere over the past week: Do you actually want the Tigers to make the playoffs?
For me, the answer is a no-brainer. Absolutely, yes.
162 Games Mean Something
There are 162 games in a Major League Baseball season. That’s six months of grinding, streaks, slumps, injuries, walk-offs, and heartbreakers. If you finish with enough wins to grab a playoff spot, regardless of how you got there, you’ve earned it.
Yes, the Tigers’ collapse has been monumental. Yes, it’s been painful to watch. But at the end of the day, if they have the record to qualify, they belong in October.
Playoff Appearances Are Rare
Let’s not forget: since winning the World Series in 1968, the Tigers have only made the playoffs nine times. Nine! That’s nine playoff appearances in the last 56 seasons heading into 2025.
How in the world do you not want your team to make the playoffs when opportunities like this come around so rarely? As fans, we wait years, sometimes decades, for meaningful October baseball. You don’t pass up that chance.
JUST GET IN
Baseball’s postseason has proven time and time again that crazy things can happen. The Tigers might look like a team on life support, but once you’re in, the slate is clean.
And here’s the kicker: Detroit has Tarik Skubal. Right now, he’s the best pitcher in baseball. When you have a true ace at the top of your rotation, you always have a chance to make noise in October. One dominant pitcher can swing a series, and there’s nobody I’d rather see on the mound than Skubal in a playoff game.
The Reset Button
Here’s what everyone forgets: when the regular season ends, every playoff team resets to 0-0. The Tigers’ horrific September? Gone. The blown division lead? Doesn’t matter anymore.
Sometimes a reset is exactly what a team needs. A chance to stop the bleeding, regroup, and remember they still have a talented roster capable of winning games. It’s a new season within the season, and anything can happen.
Bottom Line
So, do I want the Tigers to make the playoffs? Absolutely. And you should too.
Collapses hurt, no doubt about it. But playoff baseball in Detroit is a gift, and after everything this team has put us through over the years, you don’t turn away from it.
Get in. Reset. Let Skubal set the tone. And then let’s see what happens.
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