Detroit Tigers Win Fourth Straight AL Central Title, To Face Orioles In Playoffs

David Price tossed seven innings of shutout ball and the bullpen, led by Joba Chamberlain, finished the job as the Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 3-0 to clinch the American League Central Division championship for the fourth straight year on Sunday.

It's the most consecutive division titles in Major League Baseball since the Atlanta Braves' stranglehold of 14 straight National League East crowns ended in 2005.

The Tigers rarely looked like a team destined for another championship, especially after a late June slump left them behind the Kansas City Royals in second place in the Division. But the team slowly crept back into the lead by mid-August and traded the top spot with the Royals down the stretch until seizing control for good by taking two of three from the Royals two weeks ago.

The renewed Justin Verlander won three straight starts in the final ten days, and Max Scherzer was a stopper in several big September games, as once it again it was clutch pitching that jumped in when the usually potent Tiger bats failed to show up.

The Tigers will now square off against the surprising Baltimore Orioles in the American League Divisional playoffs beginning Thursday at Baltimore's Camden Yards. Justin Verlander will get the start for the Tigers against the O's Chris Tillman. The Tigers won five of six from the Orioles during the regular season.