SP Justin Verlander (19-9, 3.45 ERA, 269 K, 240.0 IP, 5.5 WAR)
1B Miguel Cabrera (144 OPS+, 68 XBH, 34 HR, 103 RBI, 5.1 WAR)
OF Curtis Granderson (102 OPS+, 61 XBH, 30 HR, 20 SB, 4.4 WAR)
SP Edwin Jackson (13-9, 3.62 ERA, 161 K, 214.0 IP, 4.2 WAR)
3B Brandon Inge (87 OPS+, 44 XBH, 27 HR, 84 RBI, 2.8 WAR)
After a World Series run in 2006, the Tigers missed the playoffs each of the next two seasons, but things seemed to be trending in the right direction again in 2009. They were the only AL Central team with a winning record when their division lead swelled to a season-high seven games on Sept. 6.
From Sept. 6 forward, the Minnesota Twins posted the best record in the majors with an 18-8 mark, while the Tigers were 11-15 during that same stretch. That set up a tie-breaking Game 163, and it was a doozy.
The game went to extra innings, and both teams scored a run in the 10th. After a scoreless 11th and a zero in the top of the 12th, Alexi Casilla delivered a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the inning, getting to closer Fernando Rodney in his fourth inning of work.