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Cleveland Indians Head to Detroit on Cusp of Clinching Divisional Title

By Henry Palattella

Sep 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) bows his head during the national anthem before a game against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) bows his head during the national anthem before a game against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) pretends to tag Detroit Tigers center fielder Cameron Maybin (4) at second base in the ninth inning at Progressive Field. The Tigers won 9-5. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) pretends to tag Detroit Tigers center fielder Cameron Maybin (4) at second base in the ninth inning at Progressive Field. The Tigers won 9-5. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Cameron Maybin

Maybin’s career in Detroit has come full circle. The Tigers originally drafted the center fielder with the 10th pick in the 2005 MLB draft, and he made his big league debut with the club in 2007. Maybin was then included in the trade with the then-Florida Marlins  that landed Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis in Detroit (Fun fact: Indians pitcher Andrew Miller was also one of the prospects that was sent from Motown to South Beach). Maybin then had stops in San Diego and Atlanta before the Tigers acquired him once against last November in a trade with the Braves.

The 29-year old native of Asheville, North Carolina has stepped up to the plate this year for Detroit, slashing .327/.393/.434 with four home runs, 43 RBIs, 15 steals, and an OPS+ of 127. Maybin also appears to have saved his best for last, hitting .452 with 12 runs scored in his last 31 at-bats.

Justin Upton

Upton is finally giving the Tigers a return on their investment. After signing a six-year, $132 million contract in the offseason, the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 MLB draft looked to be one of the biggest free agent whiffs in Detroit’s franchise history, as he struggled to a .235/.289/.381 slash line and just nine home runs by the all-star break.

While Upton’s second half batting average of .257 does not appear much better, he has bumped his on-base and slugging percentages significantly (.329 and .559), and really found his power stroke, mashing18 homers in the second half.

Upton’s improvements have especially been on display recently, as he is hitting .379 with four home runs in his last 29 at-bats.

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