Detroit @ Kansas City preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 1, 2012 ) Detroit 6, Kansas City 3

The Detroit Tigers clinched the American League Central title on Monday and are locked into the No. 3 spot in the AL playoffs, leaving the only drama left in the regular season Miguel Cabrera’s Triple Crown chase. And Cabrera is trying to make sure the drama ends soon on that one as well. The only thing standing in the way is the Kansas City Royals pitching staff, beginning with Jeremy Guthrie on Tuesday.

Cabrera went 4-for-5 in Monday’s series opener to help clinch the playoff spot and boost his league-leading average to .329. His solo home run gave him 44 on the season, pushing him into the lead in that category as well. Detroit has won seven of its last eight games and is on a roll heading into the playoffs. Prince Fielder joined Cabrera by going 4-for-5 on Monday and has hit safely in nine straight. The Royals have dropped eight of their last nine and have allowed at least five runs in each of the last six contests.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Kansas City

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Doug Fister (10-9, 3.38 ERA) vs. Royals RH Jeremy Guthrie (4-3, 3.18)

Fister set an AL record with nine consecutive strikeouts in his last start but somehow was left out of the win after allowing three runs (two earned) in 7 2/3 innings. That start came against Kansas City last week and Fister has performed well against the Royals in the past, owning a 2-2 record with a 3.74 ERA in seven games - six starts. The veteran right-hander is getting stronger at the end of the season, having yielded two earned runs or less in five of his last six starts.

Guthrie is another pitcher getting stronger at the end of the campaign. The right-hander had a string of five straight starts allowing two earned runs or less come to an end at Detroit last week, when he surrendered four runs over seven innings in a no-decision. Guthrie gave up home runs to Alex Avila and Austin Jackson in that turn. He was better against the Tigers at Kauffman Stadium on Aug. 30, allowing one runs in 7 1/3 innings to earn the win.

WALK-OFFS

1. Royals 1B Eric Hosmer (right rotator cuff) sat out Monday and is questionable for the final two games.

2. Detroit RHP Max Scherzer (shoulder) has passed all tests and was penciled in for Wednesday’s finale. If he is not needed, the Tigers could push him back for the playoffs and go with Drew Smyly.

3. Kansas City LF Alex Gordon leads the league with 51 doubles, just in front of Los Angeles’ Albert Pujols. Gordon has cooled lately, contributing only two doubles in his last 12 games.