Editing Detroit Tigers (section)

====2013: American League title defense====
{{Main|2013 Detroit Tigers season}}
The Tigers entered the 2013 season looking to defend their 2012 AL pennant. Key acquisitions in the offseason included signing free agent outfielder [[Torii Hunter]] to a two-year, $26 million contract,<ref>{{cite web|first=Ken|last=Rosenthal|title=Sources: Hunter, Tigers reach deal|url=https://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/torii-hunter-deal-detroit-tigers-111412|website=FOX Sports|date=November 14, 2012|access-date=November 14, 2012|archive-date=October 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028202823/http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/torii-hunter-deal-detroit-tigers-111412|url-status=live}}</ref> while also signing their 2012 trade deadline acquisition, pitcher Aníbal Sánchez, to a five-year, $80 million deal.<ref>{{cite web|first=Andrew|last=Simon|title=Anibal Sanchez, Tigers agree to five-year, $80 million deal|url=http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121214&content_id=40651662&vkey=news_det&c_id=det|website=MLB.com|date=December 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217093214/http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121214&content_id=40651662&vkey=news_det&c_id=det|archive-date=December 17, 2012|access-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref> The Tigers also signed free agent catcher [[Brayan Peña]] to a one-year contract.<ref name=december10>{{cite web|first=Joey|last=Nowak|title=Tigers add veteran Pena as backup catcher|url=http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121210&content_id=40595624&vkey=news_det&c_id=det|website=MLB.com|date=December 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212115929/http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121210&content_id=40595624&vkey=news_det&c_id=det|archive-date=December 12, 2012|access-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref> Moreover, ace starter Justin Verlander signed a $180 million contract extension.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jason|last=Beck|title=Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander agrees to five-year contract extension|url=http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130329&content_id=43489374&vkey=news_det&c_id=det|website=MLB.com|date=March 29, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401083427/http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130329&content_id=43489374&vkey=news_det&c_id=det|archive-date=April 1, 2013|access-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref> The Tigers placed six players on the 2013 American League All-Star team: Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, Jhonny Peralta, Torii Hunter, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.<ref>{{cite web|title=2013 All-Star Game Interactive Roster|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2013/roster.jsp|website=MLB.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811013307/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2013/roster.jsp|archive-date=August 11, 2018|access-date=January 15, 2020}}</ref>

On September 25, the Tigers clinched their third consecutive AL Central Division title.<ref>{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Iott|title=Division champs! Detroit Tigers clinch Central title for third straight season with 1–0 win over Twins|url=https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2013/09/division_champs_detroit_tigers_1.html|website=MLive|date=September 25, 2013|access-date=October 23, 2018|archive-date=August 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814010231/https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2013/09/division_champs_detroit_tigers_1.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Tigers pitchers struck out 1,428 batters during the regular season, breaking the record of 1,404 held by the [[2003 Chicago Cubs season|2003 Chicago Cubs]].<ref>{{cite web|first=James|last=Schmehl|title=Detroit Tigers' pitching staff sets strikeout record, breaks Chicago Cubs' 10-year-old record|url=https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2013/09/detroit_tigers_break_single-se.html|website=MLive|date=September 30, 2013|access-date=October 23, 2018|archive-date=May 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517233115/https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2013/09/detroit_tigers_break_single-se.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Cabrera (.348 average, 44 HR, 139 RBI) was voted the AL MVP for the second straight season,<ref>{{cite web|first=Mike|last=Axisa|title=Tigers' Miguel Cabrera named 2013 AL Most Valuable Player|url=http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24233798/tigers-miguel-cabrera-named-2013-al-most-valuable-player|website=CBS Sports|date=November 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115014601/http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24233798/tigers-miguel-cabrera-named-2013-al-most-valuable-player|archive-date=November 15, 2013|access-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref> while Scherzer (21–3, 2.90 ERA, 240 strikeouts) won the AL Cy Young Award.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jason|last=Beck|title=Tigers right-hander Max Scherzer wins 2013 AL Cy Young Award|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/stellar-season-earns-tigers-max-scherzer-al-cy-young-award?ymd=20131113&content_id=63900504&vkey=news_mlb|website=MLB.com|date=November 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114180340/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/tigers-right-hander-max-scherzer-wins-2013-al-cy-young-award?ymd=20131113&content_id=63900504&vkey=news_mlb|archive-date=November 14, 2013|access-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref>

The Tigers played the [[2013 Oakland Athletics season|Oakland Athletics]] for the second straight year in the [[2013 American League Division Series|ALDS]], and defeated the A's, 3–2.<ref>{{cite web|title=Verlander sends Tigers past A's in Game 5 gem|url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/recap/mlb_20131010_det@oak/verlander-sends-tigers-past-as-in-game-5-gem|website=CBS Sports|agency=CBSSports.com wire reports|date=October 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012053151/https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/gametracker/recap/mlb_20131010_det@oak/verlander-sends-tigers-past-as-in-game-5-gem|archive-date=October 12, 2013|access-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref> The Tigers set a record by striking out 57 Oakland batters in the ALDS.<ref>{{cite web|first=Al|last=Beaton|title=ALDS Game 5 – Tigers 3, A's 0: Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera carry Tigers to ALCS|url=https://www.blessyouboys.com/2013/10/11/4825582/alds-game-5-tigers-3-as-0-justin-verlander-win-miguel-cabrera-home-run-2013-mlb-playoffs|website=Bless You Boys|date=October 11, 2013|access-date=October 23, 2018|archive-date=October 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024075212/https://www.blessyouboys.com/2013/10/11/4825582/alds-game-5-tigers-3-as-0-justin-verlander-win-miguel-cabrera-home-run-2013-mlb-playoffs|url-status=live}}</ref> With his Game 5 gem, Verlander ran his postseason scoreless streak against Oakland to 30 innings.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jim|last=Caple|title=Justin Verlander completely dominates Oakland Athletics in Game 5 of ALDS|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/playoffs/2013/story/_/id/9805585/justin-verlander-completely-dominates-oakland-athletics-game-5-alds-mlb|website=ESPN.com|date=October 11, 2013|access-date=October 23, 2018|archive-date=October 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024035409/http://www.espn.com/mlb/playoffs/2013/story/_/id/9805585/justin-verlander-completely-dominates-oakland-athletics-game-5-alds-mlb|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Tigers advanced to their third straight [[2013 American League Championship Series|ALCS]], where they played the [[2013 Boston Red Sox season|Boston Red Sox]] for the first ever time in the postseason.<ref>{{cite web|first=Tyler|last=Kepner|title=Detroit Arms Facing Test From Boston Bats|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/12/sports/baseball/pitching-vs-hitting-debate-in-detroit-boston-matchup.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/12/sports/baseball/pitching-vs-hitting-debate-in-detroit-boston-matchup.html |archive-date=January 1, 2022 |url-access=limited|website=The New York Times|date=October 11, 2013|access-date=October 23, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The Tigers would be defeated in six games.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shane Victorino's grand slam sends Red Sox to World Series|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/id/331019102|website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press|date=October 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116010528/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/id/331019102|archive-date=January 16, 2020|access-date=January 24, 2020}}</ref>