Tigers still have plenty of chances to shake off 'collapse' label

With all of the talk surrounding the Detroit Tigers and their potential complete collapse at the top of the American League Central, Thursday was a reminder that these Tigers are by no means dead yet.

In Cleveland, Detroit avoided a three-game sweep at the hands of the Guardians with a 4-2 win. The Tigers' victory, just their second in the last 10 games, pulled Detroit even with Cleveland atop the AL Central with identical 86-73 records. However, Cleveland owns the tiebreaker thanks to an 8-5 record against the Tigers in the regular season.

Cleveland's run to the top of the division has been well documented, with the Guardians being 15.5 games back on July 8 and 10.5 games back on Sept. 1. With Cleveland's hot second half (40-24 since the All-Star break), much of the focus in the division has been on Detroit's ability (or lack thereof) to hold off the Guardians.

Now, with three games on the road against the Boston Red Sox left in the regular season, the Tigers have a chance to brush aside the talk of the "collapse" and get into the postseason, where Detroit certainly has the talent to be troublesome for any team.

Which story will the Detroit Tigers write?

The Tigers already know the story that will be written if they can't hold off the Houston Astros for the final wild-card spot (provided Cleveland doesn't stumble at home in its final three games against the Texas Rangers). However, there is still plenty of time for a team that looked every bit like a World Series favorite earlier in the season to change the narrative. 

All the Tigers have to do is win on the road against a Red Sox team that is needing victories as well to keep their postseason seeding from slipping. That's no easy task.

However, the Tigers' destiny is still in front of them, despite a second half that has seen them post a 27-35 mark. A division title is still a possibility, as is a postseason run that could help put aside any memories of what happened in August and September.

The Tigers are certainly surrounded by the "collapse" narrative right now. There's just one way out for Detroit, and that begins on Friday in Boston.