White Sox-Tigers Preview

The Detroit Tigers had their chance to make sure the AL Central wouldn't be decided on the last scheduled day of the season. They failed to do so, and it may cost them the title.

After falling into a tie for the division lead, the reeling Tigers look to avoid a fourth straight loss that could end their playoff hopes when they face the Chicago White Sox on Sunday at Comerica Park.

One night after being shut out 8-0 in the series opener, Detroit (85-76) continued its struggles at the plate in a 5-1 loss to the White Sox on Saturday.

The result dropped the Tigers -- losers of six of nine -- into a first-place tie with Minnesota, which won its third straight earlier Saturday when it beat Kansas City 5-4.

The Tigers are in danger of becoming the first team to be in first place on May 10 and stay atop a division until losing the title in the last week. Detroit, which had been alone in first place since play ended July 24, led Central by seven games less than a month ago.

"If we don't win, shame on us," said Detroit manager Jim Leyland, whose team missed a chance to wrap up the division when it split a four-game home set with the Twins prior to this series.

If the Tigers and Twins remain tied after Sunday, a one-game playoff will be played Tuesday at the Metrodome.

"We've played 161 games and it's amazing to see it come down to one day like this," Detroit catcher Gerald Laird said.

The Tigers will have the benefit of sending ace Justin Verlander (18-9, 3.45 ERA) to the mound for this contest. They may need it, as they're batting .172 in their last three games while being outscored 21-4. Placido Polanco had two hits and Detroit's only RBI on Saturday.

Verlander allowed four runs and struck out eight in eight innings of a 6-5 win over Minnesota on Tuesday to match his career high for victories, set in 2007.

"I thought Verlander was the horse that he is," Leyland told the Tigers' official Web site. "He showed it."

While the right-hander is 4-9 with a 4.97 ERA in 16 career starts against Chicago, he's 2-0 with a 0.50 ERA in two this season.

"You always feel good with Justin pitching, but we have to score some runs," Leyland said.

Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera is batting .325 for the season, but he's 1 for 12 in his last three games. He's batting .308 lifetime against Chicago's scheduled starter John Danks (13-10, 3.69).

The 24-year-old left-hander, who is 1-1 with a 1.35 ERA in his last three starts against Detroit, gave up one run and three hits while striking out seven to record his first career complete game in a 6-1 win at Cleveland on Monday. He also established a new career high for wins.

"Hopefully this is the first of many complete games to come," White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said.

Chicago got four hits and three RBIs from Alex Rios on Saturday en route to its fifth win in six games both overall and against the Tigers. Carlos Quentin added his 21st homer, giving him four home runs and 10 RBIs in his last five games.

The White Sox (79-82) needed to beat Minnesota in a one-game playoff to win the Central last season.