As noted here, if the Tigers play .500 the rest of the season, the Twins would have to go 32-19 to pass them and hope the White Sox falter, too.

The Twins best hope is the schedule. I know Cleveland has been on a surprising roll since its fire sale, but this is a good week for the Twins to get rolling at the Dome, with three against KC (starting Tuesday), followed by three with the Indians.

Meanwhile, the Tigers play four games in Boston. The Red Sox are reeling after getting swept by the Yankees, and they’ll face Edwin Jackson (2.62 ERA) tonight, but they are returning to Fenway Park, where they are 35-17. Tonight, the White Sox will send Gavin Floyd to the mound in Seattle, and there are stiffer tests ahead. Consider:

TWINS
51 games — 27 at home (where they are 31-23), 24 on the road (23-34).
The Twins got pounded on East Coast swings through Boston, New York and Tampa Bay earlier in the year, and they’ve had their their annual meltdowns out West, but those trips are over now. Only four remaining road series look daunting: @Tex (4), @Tor (4), @White Sox (3), @Det (4).

TIGERS
52 games — 27 at home (where they are 36-19), 25 on the road (23-33).
They still have to go to Tampa Bay, Oakland and Anaheim — and Detroit has had some miserable West Coast trips over the years, too. If this races goes to the end, Detroit has the toughest 10-game finish: @White Sox (3), Twins (4), White Sox (3).

WHITE SOX
50 games — 21 at home (where they are 33-27), 29 on the road (24-28).
This part of the schedule is actually pretty soft, as they’ll go to Seattle and Oakland and come home for KC and Baltimore. But then, they go on a brutal 11-game road trip: @Bos (4), @Yankees (3), @Twins (3), @Cubs (1-game makeup). Then it’s home for four against Boston. Later, they’ll go west again to play the Angels and Mariners. They end the season @Cle (3), @Det (3).

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