Tigers embrace challenge final week brings

DETROIT — If the Tigers’ topsy-turvy September has proven anything, it’s the difference that just a few days can make on the outlook of the playoff race. As they enter the final week of the regular season, they have to hope the roller coaster continues.

They took the field at Comerica Park for the ninth inning Saturday afternoon with a seemingly firm grasp on the second American League Wild Card spot. As they left that same field about 25 hours later, their comeback attempt having fallen just short in a 12-9 loss to the Royals, they had dropped 1 1/2 games down in the AL Wild Card race.

Two rough innings — a five-run ninth on Saturday and a fourth-run first on Sunday — cost Detroit a vast stretch of ground on its charge to October.

The Tigers have shown time and again that seven days is more than enough time to make up a couple of games in the standings. But with the Indians coming to town for four games starting Monday — an AL Central title clinched if they win one of them — followed by three games at upstart Atlanta, the Tigers have their work cut out.

“It stinks, no doubt about that,” Matt Boyd said. “More than anything, you know you’re going to wake up …

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