Detroit Tigers hunt for playoff spot with late-season hot streak

The latest: Detroit beat the Royals 4-2 Wednesday for a series sweep.

• The Tigers are only a half-game behind the Minnesota Twins for the American League's third and final wild-card playoff spot.

Between the lines: Due to tiebreaker rules, the Tigers would have to finish with a better season-ending record than the Twins to make the playoffs. So you have to add an extra game to the Tigers' shortfall in the wild-card standings, the Detroit News reports.

By the numbers: Entering Wednesday's game, the Tigers had a 28% chance of making the playoffs, according to ESPN's playoff tracker.

• With the win, they now have a 38% chance.

Why it matters: Detroit's sports scene is already revving with all the excitement surrounding the Lions. A Tigers playoff appearance would be next-level for local fans hungry for success.

The intrigue: The Tigers haven't made the playoffs since 2014.

What's next: Detroit travels to Baltimore for a three-game series against the struggling Orioles.

• The first game is Friday at 7:05pm.