DETROIT — The Detroit Tigers’ upcoming series at Cleveland is:

a) A rematch of last week’s showdown.

b) A preview of a playoff series in a few days.

c) The start of a really long road trip.

d) All of the above?

The Tigers have seen a lot of the Guardians lately, and they could be seeing a lot more.

The Tigers (85-71) have watched their once-comfortable cushion in the American League Central deflate. On Sept. 4, Detroit led Cleveland by 10.5 games. Less than three weeks later, they open a three-game series Tuesday at Progressive Field clinging to a one-game advantage over the red-hot Guardians (84-72).

And despite it all, the Tigers are still in the driver’s seat.

“We have the most important road trip of the season staring us in the face,” said Tigers manager A.J. Hinch. “The last week went the way it did, and we’re still going to wake up in first place with our destiny controlled by us against a team that’s been as hot as you can get in baseball. We get to play them in a three-game series. Sign me up.”

Seven teams are competing for six playoff spots in the American League.

Here’s where things stood after Sunday’s games. All of these teams are off on Monday:

1. Toronto (90-66)

2. Seattle (87-69)

3. Detroit (85-71)

4. Yankees (88-68)

5. Boston (85-71)

6. Cleveland (84-72)

————

Houston (84-72)

Although Seattle’s surge has made it difficult for the Tigers to win the No. 2 seed (and a first-round bye), the Astros’ struggles have helped Detroit’s overall playoff odds.

The Tigers own the tiebreaker over Houston (but not Seattle), so their lead over the Astros is effectively 1.5 games. For example, if the Tigers win three of their final six, the Astros must win five.

If the season ended today, here’s how the AL Wild Card Series would look:

Cleveland at Detroit (winner advances to play Seattle)Boston at New York Yankees (winner advances to play Toronto)

When the Tigers closed the regular season at Comerica Park on Sunday on a rainy day at the end of a dismal homestand, stadium employees weren’t sure whether to say goodbye or, perhaps, “See you in April!”

After all, the Tigers still have a chance to host a Wild Card series at Comerica Park.

Alternatively, the Tigers might not make the playoffs, or they might be eliminated on the road.

And, finally, there’s a chance that the Tigers will embark on an absurdly long road trip: three regular-season games in Cleveland; three regular-season games in Boston; a Wild Card series in Cleveland; and the opening games of the AL Division Series in Seattle. The Tigers would finally return home for Game 3 of the ALDS on Oct. 7, 16 days after their regular-season finale on Sunday.

Missing the playoffs entirely, while possible, is still unlikely.

The Tigers’ odds to make the playoffs — once above 99 percent — are still higher than 80 percent, despite their struggles and the Guardians’ surge.

According to Playoffstatus.com, the most likely first-round scenarios are:

No. 6 Tigers at No. 3 Guardians (21 percent) No. 6 Guardians at No. 3 Tigers (17 percent) No. 6 Astros at No. 3 Tigers (17 percent)No. 5 Tigers at No. 4 Yankees (13 percent) No. 6 Red Sox at No. 3 Tigers (10 percent)

No other scenario, including a first-round bye, has more than a 1 percent chance.

With no disrespect to the Guardians, playing the Yankees seems like the least desirable outcome. The Tigers know Cleveland well, and they know Progressive Field. The Yankees, meanwhile, have a run differential nearly 150 runs better than Cleveland’s. Whatever their record, a three-game series in the Bronx would be dangerous.

So let’s focus on this week in Cleveland.

If the Tigers sweep the series, they would clinch the AL Central and likely preserve a slim hope of getting the No. 2 seed.

If the Guardians sweep, extending Detroit’s losing streak to nine, the Tigers could still reach the postseason. Their odds in that case would likely fall to about 50 percent, depending on Houston’s results.

Outside of Cleveland, the series that matters most for the Tigers is in Sacramento, where the Athletics host the Astros for three games. Tigers fans should be rooting for the A’s.

The Athletics host the Astros for the three games. Tigers’ fans should, of course, be rooting for the A’s.

But really, most of your attention should be on the Tigers. Because even now, after a miserable week, a not-so-great month, and a fairly mediocre three-month stretch, they still control their own destiny.

Two wins in the next six games might be enough. Three almost certainly will be. If the Tigers can’t manage that with everything on the line, they don’t deserve to be in the field.

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