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Detroit Tigers magic number: Where AL Central Division race stands after Yankees series

Tigers’ magic number at 8 to clinch AL Central with 15 games left

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 11: Gleyber Torres #25 of the Detroit Tigers reacts towards the New York Yankees dugout during the fifth inning at Yankee Stadium on September 11, 2025, in the Bronx borough of New York City. Members of the New York Yankees were given permission by MLB to wear FDNY and NYPD hats tonight, honoring the fallen first responders of 9/11. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) (Elsa, 2025 Getty Images)

DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers couldn’t’ finish off a clean sweep of the Yankees, but they still left New York with a series victory.

Now, the Tigers head to Miami for three games against the Marlins. Detroit has 15 games (five three-game series) remaining on the schedule as they try to clinch their first AL Central title since 2014.

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READ: What to expect this weekend as Tigers jockey for playoff seeding in Miami

With their loss to the Yankees on Thursday and Cleveland’s win over Kansas City, the Tigers didn’t make any progress on their magic number to lock up the division.

So as of Friday morning, the magic number remains at eight.

The Guardians refuse to let the Tigers coast to the finish line, winning six of their last seven games. With six head-to-head matchups remaining, the Guardians still have an outside shot to steal the division away from Detroit.

The schedule sets up nicely for Cleveland, with three games against the last-place White Sox this weekend and four against the fourth-place Twins next weekend.

Detroit gets two similar series against the Marlins and Braves.

If the Tigers still haven’t clinched heading into the final weekend, they’ll be in Boston while the Guardians host Texas.


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