Detroit at Baltimore

The Detroit Tigers have the last three American League Cy Young Award winners in their starting rotation. With that staff of aces, they were expected to be runaway winners in the AL Central, but needed to win their final game just to clinch. Baltimore grew up in a hurry this year, and while Max Scherzer is the name pitcher in this matchup, he has been out-pitched by the O's Chris Tillman. Tillman is under the radar, but the finish to his season was as good as anyone's. Baltimore is 11-1 in his last 12 starts, and is 9-0 in his last nine home starts. Tillman has allowed 3 runs or fewer in 20 of his last 21 starts on the season. He had one rough stretch where Baltimore went 4-6, but otherwise they are 19-4 in 23 other starts. Tillman's only start vs. the Tigers this season resulted in 1 run on 5 hits in 8.1 innings of work. The biggest difference in this one is in the bullpen where the O's had a 3.10 ERA, while the Tigers' pen imploded often this season. Baltimore is also 22-5 behind Tillman when following a loss. Baltimore wins the opener.