An improbable late-season surge from the Detroit Tigers has them fighting for a playoff spot

The Detroit Tigers were a seller at MLB's trade deadline on July 30, and at the time, the pessimism was entirely understandable. They had a 52-57 record, were dealing with various injuries and going nowhere fast.

So general manager Jeff Greenberg shipped pitcher Jack Flaherty to the Dodgers. Veteran outfielder Mark Canha went to the Giants. Reliever Andrew Chafin and catcher Carson Kelly were sent to the Rangers.

And then, somehow, the Tigers got better.

Young standouts like Riley Greene, Trey Sweeney, Kerry Carpenter and Colt Keith have gotten hot at the plate in September while lefty Tarik Skubal is among the leading candidates to win the AL Cy Young award.