DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers are only two games out of a playoff spot heading into this weekend, but that doesn’t mean they have any breathing room. The Cleveland Indians are out of reach for the first of two wild card spots, leaving the Tigers, Yankees and Orioles as the top three contenders for the No. That starts this weekend, against a White Sox team that has embarrassed the Tigers this season. It looked like the White Sox were taking batting practice against the kids from their alternate training site. Detroit Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire takes the ball from pitcher Casey Mize (12) in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Detroit, Monday, Aug. 24, 2020.

Ryu is an ace, and hell give the Blue Jays a chance to win every time he takes the mound. All three of the Blue Jays deadline acquisitions have been very good in the past and could be so again, but theyre far from safe. Of the seven relievers who have made at least 10 appearances for the Blue Jays, six have sub-3.00 ERAs. As good as Soto and Cisnero have been, the edge has to go to the Blue Jays. Add in the much easier remaining schedule and it looks like itll be a tall task for the Tigers to overcome the Blue Jays for the final wild card spot.

TIGERS ROSTER: Tigers reveal final 30-man roster for Opening DayThat leaves nine AL teams fighting for two spots. Twins (101 wins last year)10 games vs. Indians (93)6 games vs. Reds (75)4 games vs. Cardinals (91)Blue Jays:10 games vs. Yankees (103)10 games vs. Rays (96)4 games vs. Nationals (93)3 games vs. Braves (97)Red Sox:10 games vs. Yankees (103)10 games vs. Rays (96)6 games vs. Braves (97)3 games vs. Nationals (93)Rangers:10 games vs. Astros (107)10 games vs. Athletics (97)3 games vs. Dodgers (106)4 games vs. Diamondbacks (85)Angels:10 games vs. Astros (107)10 games vs. Athletics (97)6 games vs. Dodgers (106)3 games vs. Diamondbacks (85)While the Tigers will undoubtedly struggle against the Twins and the Indians, their interleague games against the NL Central offer a distinct advantage. In a normal season, the Tigers would have already been 20 games out of the playoff hunt by July 24.

The Detroit Tigers are the ultimate case study. To have any chance to compete, the Tigers would need to do something like this:15-8 against the Royals, Pirates and White Sox. White Sox have to bustThe Tigers need the White Sox -- this years darling sleeper in the American League -- to be a disappointment. (Getty Images)The White Sox are so intriguing because they have a wider range of possible outcomes than any team in baseball. Cron #26 (L) of the Detroit Tigers is greeted at home plate by teammate Jonathan Schoop #8 after he hit a home run during the Detroit Tigers Summer Workouts at Comerica Park on July 11, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan.