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Los Angeles Angels 8/25-27

The Los Angeles Angels close out a Tigers’ seven-game homestand with their only regular season trip to Detroit from August 25-27. Manager Mike Scioscia, who entered his 16th year at the helm of the Angels in 2015, led the club to a 98-64 record and a postseason appearance in 2014. When the Tigers were in Anaheim from May 26-31, the Angels swept the four-game series.

The reigning MVP Mike Trout carried the momentum from his MVP campaign into the 2015 season. The Angels’ outfielder was named MVP of the All-Star Game for the second-consecutive year after being the first player to hit a leadoff home run since Joe Morgan did it in 1977. Trout ranks among the top ten in nine offensive categories – batting average, home runs, RBI, runs scored, hits, total bases, walks, on-base percentage and slugging percentage – among American League batters.

Albert Pujols has reached a career home run milestone this season, much like his Detroit Tigers counterpart Miguel Cabrera. Pujols surpassed Hall of Famers Ted Williams, Willie McCovey and Frank Thomas for sole possession of 18th place on the career home run list by hitting his 522nd home run in April.

Garrett Richards returned to the mound for the Angels in 2015 after suffering a season-ending knee injury in August 201. Since his return, he has led the team in wins and ranks in the top three Angels starting pitchers in strikeouts with only Hector Santiago and C.J. Wilson ahead of him.

Tigers vs. Angels (All-Time)

Cleveland Indians 9/4-6

The Cleveland Indians return to Detroit for the final time for a three-game series from September 4-6. This meeting marks the fifth of six between the two division opponents. In their last meeting, the Tigers took two of three games at Progressive Field from June 22-24.

Top-prospect Fransisco Lindor made his major league debut and recorded his first major league hit on June 14 against the Tigers at Comerica Park. Since his debut, Lindor has made an offensive impact ranking among the top five in batting average and sits just outside of the top 10 in RBI and home runs of Indians batters with appearances in 35-or-more games.

Since being promoted from Triple-A Columbus on June 21, starter Cody Anderson leads starters in ERA. Carlos Carrasco leads the rotation in wins with Trevor Bauer and Danny Salazar not far behind. Corey Kluber continues to look for the stride that helped him win the AL Cy Young award in 2014, but still leads the team in strikeouts.

Tigers vs. Indians (All-Time)

Tampa Bay Rays 9/7-9

The Tampa Bay Rays make their only trip to Detroit to end a Tigers’ six-game homestand from September 7-9. New manager Kevin Cash is in his first season at the helm of the Rays and is looking to improve on a fourth place finish in the American League East with a 77-85 record in 2015.

Veteran third baseman Evan Longoria leads the team in RBI and doubles, while he also ranks in the top five of Rays hitters in average and home runs. Fellow infielder Logan Forsythe has numbers nearly identical to Longoria and is either ahead of or right behind him in the same offensive categories.

After losing starting pitcher Alex Cobb to a season-ending injury, other members of the Rays’ rotation have stepped up to fill those roles. Chris Archer leads Tampa Bay starters in wins, ERA and strikeouts. Jake Odorizzi and Erasmo Ramirez have also contributed, combining for a 13-8 record and 2.95 ERA (161.2IP/53ER) prior to the All-Star break.

Tigers vs. Rays (All-Time)

Kansas City Royals 9/18-20

The Kansas City Royals make their third and final trip to Comerica Park from September 18-20 as part of a Tigers’ 10-game homestand against only American League Central Division opponents. This series marks the last three games of 12 meetings between the two teams following the All-Star break.

The Royals acquired starting pitcher Johnny Cueto from the Cincinnati Reds via trade following the All-Star break as part of their push to go to the postseason for the second consecutive year. While in Cincinnati, Cueto had a 7-6 record with a 2.62 ERA and 120 strikeouts in 19 games.

Since starting the second half of the season, All-Star outfielder Lorenzo Cain ranks in the top five in batting average and RBI among his teammates. He is also only second to Final Vote winner Mike Moustakas in home runs. The Royals found themselves without outfielder Alex Gordon, who was place on the 15-day disabled list just prior to the All-Star break, for the start of the second half of the season. Prior to his injury, Gordon was batting .279 with 32 runs scored, 13 doubles, 11 home runs and 39 RBI.

Tigers vs. Royals (All-Time)

Chicago White Sox 9/21-23

The Chicago White Sox travel to Comerica Park for four games from September 21-23 as the Tigers continue their final homestand of 2015. The Tigers hosted the White Sox from June 25-28 for a four-game series, in which the Tigers took two of three. The fourth games was postponed due to weather and will be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader on September 21.

Left-handed starter Chris sale closed out the first half of the season with a stretch of eight-straight starts with 10-or-more strikeouts. During the stretch from May 23 to July 6, Sale recorded 97 strikeouts and tied Pedro Martinez’s eight-game stretch from August 19 to September 27, 1999 for the major league record.

At the plate, Jose Abreu leads everyday players in batting average, RBI and home runs. Milky Cabrera and Adam LaRoche are also contributing for the White Sox offensively. Prior to the All-Star break the outfielder and designated hitter, respectively, combined for a .244 average (147×603) with 67 RBI, 13 home runs, 26 doubles and 64 runs scored.

Tigers vs. White Sox (All-Time)

Minnesota Twins 9/25-27

The Minnesota Twins come to Comerica Park for the final home series of 2015 from September 25-27. The two teams met up for a four-game series in Minnesota to close out the first half of the season. The Twins took three of the four games and won their first series against Detroit this season after amassing a 2-7 record in the first three series against the Tigers.

On the mound for the Twins, Phil Hughes leads the team in wins with righthander Kyle Gibson in second. Gibson is also among the top starters in ERA. After missing most of the first half due to a suspension, Ervin Santana returned to the Twins’ rotation on July 5 and made an instant impact winning two of his first four starts.

Two of the Twins rookies, left fielder Eddie Rosario and third baseman Miguel Sano combined for a .299 (69×231) batting average, 29 runs scored, 21 extra-base hits and 29 RBI in 66 games prior to the All-Star break. Rosario and Sano are the youth of the lineup that includes veteran first baseman Joe Mauer, outfielder Torii Hunter and second baseman Brian Dozier.

Tigers vs. Twins (All-Time)

This content was originally published in Issue 5 of “The Tigers Magazine” distributed at stands throughout Comerica Park during the 2015 Detroit Tigers season.