Tigers open another big series

Our Detroit Tigers are heading into a 4-game home series against the Minnesota Twins tonight, with the slight luxury of a 2 game lead.

If the Tigers win at least two games, they will make things very hard on Minnesota. This is certainly an attainable goal, considering how outstanding the Tigers have been at home this year. But it is by no means in the bag.

Let's be blunt. The Twins are 11-2 since losing Justin Morneau. And while I have no doubt that the Tigers are not overlooking the series, the Twins will likely be a bit hungrier.

If the Tigers are going to take two or more games, they will need to play at their best, despite their home-field advantage. If the Pitchers play to their full potential and the hitters step it up, they should be able to easily win two, probably three of the games.

But they cannot afford to enter the series overconfident. If the Tigers lose the first game, in front of their home crowd, the pressure will shift to them. They will find themselves suddenly a little nervous. Scrambling could result from this, something that is never good.

Instead, the Tigers must head into the series understanding that Minnesota is capable of beating them, and therefore play their hardest so they can get that first win and hopefully plant a seed of doubt.

There's only seven games left for the Tigers, but they remain tight in what is, without a doubt, the league's most exciting race.