The Detroit Tigers fell one spot to No. 3 in the latest MLB power rankings that were released Monday after a 2-4 (.333) week that included a series sweep.
Detroit (80-59) still remains the best team in the American League, but the Toronto Blue Jays (79-59) are only a half game back. The Tigers have little margin for error if they hope to secure home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
That’s why they can’t afford more weeks like this past one. Detroit traveled to Sacramento from Aug. 25-27 and was swept by the lowly Athletics (64-75). They bounced back with a series win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium, but it wasn’t enough to hold firm in this week’s power rankings.
Tigers fall in power rankings
Detroit was passed in the power rankings by the Philadelphia Phillies, who were swept by the New York Mets before taking three out of four games from the Atlanta Braves last week.
But in addition to the rankings—which are compiled from MLB.com contributors—Will Leitch also writes about one thing for each team to watch down the stretch.
Here’s his take on the Tigers:
“The Tigers have had a raucous home crowd all year, really since last postseason, and the excitement all Detroiters have for their Tigers—and all their teams of late—will be, in the words of “Spinal Tap,” turned to 11 come October. Which means nailing down home-field advantage throughout the AL Playoffs, something they could very much do with a solid September, could make a huge, huge difference.”
Detroit began this week with a series-opening loss to the Mets. They’ll play two more games against New York before a three-game series vs. the AL’s worst team—the Chicago White Sox.