Editing Detroit Tigers (section)

====2011: First AL Central Championship====
{{main|2011 Detroit Tigers season}}
The Tigers returned much of their roster from 2010, while adding relief pitcher [[Joaquín Benoit]], catcher/DH [[Víctor Martínez (baseball)|Victor Martinez]], and starting pitcher [[Brad Penny]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Enrique|last=Rojas|title=Detroit Tigers agree with Joaquin Benoit on 3-year contract, source says|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=5816921|website=ESPN.com|date=November 17, 2010|access-date=October 22, 2018|archive-date=October 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022232652/http://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=5816921|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Reports: Victor Martinez leaves Boston Red Sox for Detroit Tigers|url=https://www.espn.com/boston/mlb/news/story?id=5842176|website=ESPN Boston|date=November 23, 2010|access-date=October 22, 2018|archive-date=October 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022232636/http://www.espn.com/boston/mlb/news/story?id=5842176|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Source: Tigers, Brad Penny agree to deal|url=https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/detroit-tigers-brad-penny-close-to-contract-011011|website=FOX Sports|date=January 10, 2011|access-date=October 22, 2018|archive-date=October 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022232514/https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/detroit-tigers-brad-penny-close-to-contract-011011|url-status=live}}</ref>

On May 7, Verlander took a perfect game against the [[2011 Toronto Blue Jays season|Toronto Blue Jays]] into the 8th inning. After a walk to [[J. P. Arencibia]], Verlander coaxed a double-play grounder and went on to the 9th inning to complete his second career no-hitter by facing the minimum 27 batters. It was the seventh no-hitter in Tigers history.<ref>{{cite web|first=Steve|last=Kornacki|title=Detroit Tigers' Justin Verlander tosses second career no-hitter in win over Blue Jays|url=https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2011/05/justin_verlander_gets_second_n.html|website=MLive|date=May 7, 2011|access-date=October 22, 2018|archive-date=January 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115235454/https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2011/05/justin_verlander_gets_second_n.html|url-status=live}}</ref> On August 27, Verlander defeated the [[2011 Minnesota Twins season|Minnesota Twins]], 6–4, to become the first Tiger since Bill Gullickson in 1991 to win 20 games in a season. Verlander also became the first major league pitcher since [[Curt Schilling]] in 2002 to reach 20 wins before the end of August.<ref>{{cite web|title=Verlander wins MLB-best 20th win as Tigers top Twins|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/recap/MLB_20110827_DET@MIN|website=CBS Sports|agency=CBSSports.com wire reports|date=August 27, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129130921/http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/recap/MLB_20110827_DET@MIN|archive-date=January 29, 2012|access-date=October 22, 2018}}</ref>

In May, the Tigers were as many as eight games back of the first place [[2011 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]]. However, they would start to play better.<ref name="2011 division CBS">{{cite web|title=A's Loss Results In Tigers Winning AL Central|url=https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/09/16/a%E2%80%99s-loss-results-in-tigers-winning-al-central/|website=CBS San Francisco|date=September 16, 2011|access-date=October 22, 2018|archive-date=October 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023034840/https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/09/16/a%E2%80%99s-loss-results-in-tigers-winning-al-central/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="2011 division MLive">{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Iott|title=Tigers clinch Central Division title with 3–1 victory over A's|url=https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2011/09/tigers_clinch_central_division.html|website=MLive|date=September 17, 2011|access-date=October 22, 2018|archive-date=January 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116030645/https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2011/09/tigers_clinch_central_division.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Tigers sent five players to the 2011 All-Star Game.<ref name="2011 ASG rosters">{{cite web|title=2011 All-Star Game: Rosters|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2011/roster_league.jsp#al_reserves|website=MLB.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410051504/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2011/roster_league.jsp|archive-date=April 10, 2019|access-date=January 15, 2020}}</ref> Catcher [[Alex Avila]] was voted in as a starter, while Justin Verlander, José Valverde and Miguel Cabrera were added as reserves.<ref name="2011 ASG rosters"/> Verlander was unavailable to play in the All-Star Game due to the rule where starting pitchers who play the Sunday beforehand are ineligible.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ken|last=Rosenthal|title=All-Star Game needs more changing|url=https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/mlb-all-star-game-justin-verlander-felix-hernandez-james-shields-rule-keeping-sunday-starters-from-pitching-must-go-071211|website=FOX Sports|date=July 12, 2011|access-date=October 22, 2018|archive-date=October 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022232551/https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/mlb-all-star-game-justin-verlander-felix-hernandez-james-shields-rule-keeping-sunday-starters-from-pitching-must-go-071211|url-status=live}}</ref> Shortstop [[Jhonny Peralta]] was later added to the All-Star team when the Yankees' [[Derek Jeter]] was unable to play due to injury.<ref name="2011 ASG rosters"/><ref>{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Iott|title=Tigers' Jhonny Peralta thrilled to be late addition to American League All-Star team|url=https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2011/07/tigers_jhonny_peralta_thrilled.html|website=MLive|date=July 9, 2011|access-date=October 22, 2018|archive-date=January 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116040709/https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2011/07/tigers_jhonny_peralta_thrilled.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

As a three-way battle for the division title developed between the Tigers, Indians, and [[2011 Chicago White Sox season|Chicago White Sox]], the Tigers put together an 18–10 record in August to begin to pull away.<ref name="2011 division MLive"/><ref>{{cite web|first=James|last=Schmehl|title=Month-by-month highlights that led to Tigers' first playoff berth since 2006|url=https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2011/09/tigers_month-by-month_recap_le.html|website=MLive|date=September 29, 2011|access-date=October 22, 2018|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308122345/https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2011/09/tigers_month-by-month_recap_le.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Starter [[Doug Fister]], who was acquired at the trade deadline, provided an immediate spark, going 8–1 over the final two months of the season with a sparkling 1.79 ERA.<ref>{{cite web|title=Detroit Tigers acquire Doug Fister in deal with Seattle Mariners|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/6818559/detroit-tigers-acquire-doug-fister-deal-seattle-mariners|website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=July 31, 2011|access-date=October 22, 2018|archive-date=February 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170217063234/http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/6818559/detroit-tigers-acquire-doug-fister-deal-seattle-mariners|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Detroit Tigers Statistics|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/2011.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 22, 2018|archive-date=June 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220604010220/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/2011.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> After a loss on September 1, the Tigers reeled off a 12-game winning streak to put any thoughts of another late-season collapse to rest. The streak consisted of four consecutive three-game sweeps over their AL Central Division rivals. It was the Tigers' longest winning streak since the 1934 team won 14 straight.<ref>{{cite web|first=Scott|last=Miller|title=Tigers roar to longest winning streak since 1934|url=http://scott-miller.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6270335/31985360|website=CBS Sports|date=September 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004221215/http://scott-miller.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6270335/31985360|archive-date=October 4, 2013|access-date=October 22, 2018}}</ref> On September 16, the Tigers clinched the AL Central Division title with a 3–1 win over the [[2011 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]]. It was their first AL Central title since joining the division in 1998, and first division title of any kind since 1987.<ref name="2011 division CBS"/><ref name="2011 division MLive"/>

Members of the 2011 Tigers won multiple statistical awards in 2011. Verlander won the pitching triple crown, leading the AL in wins (24), ERA (2.40) and strikeouts (250). On November 15, Verlander was a unanimous selection for the AL Cy Young Award.<ref>{{cite web|first=Evan|last=Brunell|title=It's unanimous: Verlander claims AL Cy Young|url=http://eye-on-baseball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/33329268|website=CBS Sports|date=November 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116184922/http://eye-on-baseball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/33329268|archive-date=November 16, 2011|access-date=October 22, 2018}}</ref> In a much closer vote six days later, Verlander also won AL MVP, becoming the first pitcher to do so since [[Dennis Eckersley]] in 1992.<ref>{{cite web|first=Matt|last=Snyder|title=Justin Verlander wins AL MVP|url=http://eye-on-baseball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/33440802|website=CBS Sports|date=November 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123162158/http://eye-on-baseball.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22297882/33440802|archive-date=November 23, 2011|access-date=October 22, 2018}}</ref> Valverde was the AL saves leader with 49 (in 49 save opportunities), winning the 2011 [[MLB Delivery Man of the Year Award]].<ref name="Valverde delivery"/> Cabrera won the AL batting title with a .344 average, while also leading the AL in on-base percentage (.448) and doubles (48).<ref>{{cite web|title=Miguel Cabrera wins AL batting title; Tigers fall short of home field|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=310928106|website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=September 29, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410114638/http://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=310928106|archive-date=April 10, 2019|access-date=January 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2011 American League Batting Leaders|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2011-batting-leaders.shtml|website=Baseball-Reference.com|date=October 22, 2018|access-date=October 22, 2018|archive-date=October 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023034806/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2011-batting-leaders.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Tigers beat the [[2011 New York Yankees season|New York Yankees]] by a score of 3–2 in Game 5 of the [[2011 American League Division Series|ALDS]], winning the series 3–2.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tigers start early then hold off Yankees in decisive Game 5 of ALDS|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/id/311006110|website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=October 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116004422/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/id/311006110|archive-date=January 16, 2020|access-date=January 24, 2020}}</ref> They advanced to the [[2011 American League Championship Series|ALCS]], but they lost to the defending AL Champion [[2011 Texas Rangers season|Texas Rangers]], 4–2.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nelson Cruz sets home run record as Rangers return to Series|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/id/311015113|website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=October 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115235435/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/id/311015113|archive-date=January 15, 2020|access-date=January 24, 2020}}</ref>