Now that they have come this far, the Tigers’ worst nightmare -- next to losing the American League Central all together -- would be to have to return to the miserable Minneapolis Metrodome that they thought they had left forever to face the perpetually pesky Minnesota Twins in a one game winner-take-all sudden death showdown on Oct. 6.
        With the AL playoffs possibly opening the next day in New York, such a scenario would, at best, turn the Tigers’ postseason pitching plans upside-down.
        And, against the Yankees the Tigers are going to need every edge they can get.
        Trust me, the last thing the Tigers want to do is finish in a regular season tie with the Twins.
        Because the Twins will most likely win the overall season series between the two teams -- they currently lead, 9-5, with four games left to play at Comerica Park next week -- a tiebreaker would be played in Minnesota, where the Tigers are 2-7 this year.
        Normally, Major League Baseball likes to get such playoff games out of the way as soon as possible,  which would mean playing on Monday, Oct. 5. But the Metrodome is already booked that evening for a glamor “Monday Night Football” match-up pitting the Minnesota Vikings and their new quarterback, Brett Favre, against the Favre’s long-time team, the Green Bay Packers.
        And the NFL has no intention of changing the schedule and moving that game to Green Bay, simply  to accommodate the Tigers and Twins. It doesn’t work that way in the real world. And the Vikings’ lease with the Metrodome gives them precedence over the Twins in every situation except a World Series game.
        Baseball is not about to stage a playoff game of such importance at, say, 11 a.m. on Monday.
        Which means, if necessary, the Tigers and Twins will square off on Tuesday, Oct. 6, with the winner immediately moving on to face the Yankees.
        The American League Division Series will open in New York on Wednesday Oct. 7, or Thursday Oct. 8. Because the Yankees own the best record in the AL, that will be their choice.
        And I don’t see the Bronx Bombers doing the Tigers any favors, do you?
        Bottom line: Instead of two or three days off before the start of the playoffs, the Tigers might get none.
        Of course, there is a clear-cut solution to this problem: Don’t finish in a tie with the Twins.