Tigers closing in on improbable playoff berth after comeback win over Rays

What once felt distant is now firmly in the Tigers' grasp.

On Thursday, Detroit rallied from a 3-0 deficit against the Rays to win 4-3, its fifth victory in a row and ninth in its last 10 games. The win moved the Tigers one step closer to an improbable AL wild-card berth.

With a season-ending series beginning Friday against the White Sox (39-120) — the worst team in baseball — the Tigers are in a fantastic position to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

Ahead of the Twins' Thursday night game against the Marlins (58-100), Detroit (85-74) holds a 2.5-game lead over Minnesota (82-76) for the AL's final wild-card spot. 

The Tigers are tied with the Royals (85-74), and if they hold on to the second wild card, they will travel to Baltimore for a three-game wild-card series against the Orioles (88-70) instead of the AL West-champion Astros (86-73), who have reached the ALCS in seven consecutive seasons.

Detroit's inclusion in the playoff conversation would have seemed laughable as recently as the beginning of September. Per Baseball Reference, the Tigers' playoff odds were 6.5 percent after their record dropped to 71-71 following a loss to the Athletics on Sept. 6.

They've gone an incredible 14-3 since then and their postseason odds were 93.4 percent entering Thursday.

Closer Jason Foley recorded his seventh save during the stretch, striking out Rays centerfielder Jose Siri with a 98 mph sinker to end the game.