AL Central

When the Detroit Tigers take the field at Comerica Park for Game 4 of the American League Division Series on Tuesday afternoon, they won't just facing Oakland and the specter of elimination, they'll be staring an unflattering history in the face.

Since 1972, Detroit has eventually succumbed to elimination in the postseason every single time they've faced it.

Max Scherzer earned it.

The Detroit Tigers have set their playoff rotation, and according to Mike Axisa of CBS Sports, Max Scherzer is going to get the ball in Game 1.

By any reasonable set of standards, Prince Fielder is a fantastic hitter. The Detroit Tigers first baseman owns a .286/.389/.527 career batting line and is one of only 17 players in MLB history with at least 285 home runs through his age-29 season.

Detroit Tigers star Miguel Cabrera left Saturday's game against the Chicago White Sox due to a groin injury. Cabrera has been plagued by abdominal and groin trouble all season, so this is a troubling development for the Tigers as they head towards the postseason. 

The Tigers' official Twitter account broke the news:

It’s a case of Wally Pipp, redux—in an indirect sort of way.

Jhonny Peralta got a headache and Jose Iglesias took his job.

Kind of.

Sometimes the baseball gods just aren't on your side. That certainly appears to be the case for Miguel Cabrera as he chases a second consecutive Triple Crown. 

Despite a two-game losing streak, the Cleveland Indians find themselves just 1.5 games back of the fifth and final playoff spot in the American League. The Indians trail just three teams, those being the New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers.

In December 2012, the Detroit Tigers signed Anibal Sanchez to a five-year, $80 million contract, bolstering one of the best starting rotations in baseball.

And this season, Sanchez has gone out and defended his mega deal.

Sanchez's deal was one of the more polarizing contract agreements in Tigers recent memory, igniting outrage from some fans, and elation for others.

The Minnesota Twins are well on their way to their third straight October off, and the fans in Twins Territory are not happy.

With the trade of Justin Morneau to the Pirates and with Joe Mauer's slow recovery from a concussion, there doesn't seem to be much hope for the team as they trot out a lineup in which Brian Dozier is supposed to be their main source of power.