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Five of ESPN.coms MLB beat writers who cover teams battling for wild-card berths were asked to make a case for why their team will be playing a do-or-die playoff game in October. Below, Katie Strang argues for the?Detroit Tigers?against fellow writers Eddie Matz (Baltimore Orioles), Andrew Marchand (New York Yankees), Mark Saxon (St. Louis Cardinals)?and Adam Rubin (New York Mets).For more on the other contenders, check out Wild-card Wednesday. Strang: After missing the playoffs last year for the first time since 2010, the Detroit Tigers appear primed to secure a postseason berth in 2016 because their key offensive contributors are swinging the bats well at precisely the right time. Look at the clubs big boppers -- Miguel Cabrera, J.D. Martinez and Justin Upton, who are all crushing the ball in September. Factor in that second baseman Ian Kinsler is also scorching hot this month (.314), and his fellow infielder Nick Castellanos is aiming to return within the next week, and the Tigers have one of the most potent lineups in baseball. Beyond that, the Tigers are in the midst of 17 consecutive games against American League Central teams, providing them ample opportunity to make up ground against divisional opponents.Marchand: If the Tigers dont make the playoffs, it is all on them. While the majority of the wild-card contenders are in the AL East beating each other up, the Tigers only have to just worry about becoming complacent as they face a much easier road.Matz: When it comes the wild card, gaining ground on divisional opponents matters not. What does matter is winning, and given that seven of those 17 AL Central games are against an Indians squad thats owned Detroit this year (11-1), well -- good luck with that.Saxon: You lost me when you started spouting facts and evidence. Im just not a big fan of aging, slugging teams with no athleticism and iffy relief pitching in October.Rubin: The Tigers fatal flaw will be their rotation. In a seven-start stretch that also included an absence for a lat issue, Jordan Zimmermann has a 4.94 ERA. Beyond that, three kids in the rotation are unproven. China NFL Jerseys . - Levi Browns tenure at left tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers is over before it even began. NFL Jerseys 2020 . Vaives lawyer Trevor Whiffen claims the former 50-goal man wasnt provided with a copy of the claim beforehand and that he would not have agreed to the allegations made against the NHL had he been asked to review its contents. https://www.cheapjerseysfromchinareview.com/ . Jeff Green scored 13 points and Kris Humphries 12 for the Celtics, who nearly blew an 18-point, second-half lead. Sullingers 20-20 was the first by a Celtics player since Kevin Garnetts first game in Boston in 2007. Garnett was dealt -- along with Paul Pierce -- to Brooklyn during the off-season. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . For the Wild it was their first win of the season and they now have a record of 1-1-2 while the Jets fall to 2-2. Jets start a six game home stand Friday with another divisional game, home to the Dallas Stars. China Jerseys 2020 . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. Heres a glance at todayss NFL preseason games. All times Eastern:GOING YOUNG- Carolina at Tennessee, 3 p.m.Carolina rookie cornerbacks James Bradberry and Daryl Worley will get another meaningful audition at Tennessee. The defending NFC champion Panthers have a pair of vacancies, after All-Pro Josh Norman left and Charles Tillman retired. Bene Benwikere, the nickel back last year, is still in the mix, but coach Ron Rivera is strongly considering starting both Bradberry and Worley.Fittingly, the wide receivers on the other side are in flux after the Titans traded disappointing 2015 second-round draft pick Dorial Green-Beckham this week to Philadelphia. The deal further cemented the status of rookie Tajae Sharpe and widened an opening for Justin Hunter. Veterans Harry Douglas and Andre Johnson are also trying to secure spots.Titans running backs DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry will have a chance to build on the momentum established against San Diego last week.BAD-LUCK BILLS- New York Giants at Buffalo, 4 p.m.Buffalo will play its first game at the newly renamed New Era Field, after the Buffalo-based apparel company bought naming rights for the former Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Bills sure could use a break from a spate of bad news that has persisted throughout their offseason.Just this week, linebacker IK Enemkpali was lost to a season-ending knee injury and starting defensive tackle Marcell Dareus received a substance-abuse policy suspension for the first four games of the regular season from the NFL.The visitor will be the New York Giants, who have slated quarterback Eli Manning and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to play after resting last week. Free agent kicker Tom Obarski will get an extended look, with starter Josh Brown suspended for the regular-season opener because of a personal conduct issue.FAMILIAR FOES- Baltimore at Indianapolis, 7 p.m.Andrew Luck is expected to make his first start for Indianapolis since November when the Colts host Baltimore in a reunion of sorts among the coaching staffs. Colts coach Chuck Pagano and new defensive coordinator Ted Monachino both worked for Ravens coach Jim Harbaugh before leaving for Indianapolis, giving them a little insight into what Luck should prepare for in the second week of the preseason with his appearance expected to last a quarter or so.Quarterback Joe Flacco almost certainly wont play for the Ravens, but rookie left tackle Ronnie Stanley will get another game to get settled after a decent debut.YOU GUYS AGAIN?- Tampa Bay at Jacksonville, 7:30 p.m.After a pair of joint practices with Tampa Bay, Jacksonville coach Gus Bradley likely wont play his starters as long as he usually does in the second preseason game. That means quarterback Blake Bortles, who led the first-team offense to 10 points last week in the first quarter, wont have as many snaps to stay sharp.Jaguars defensive end Dante Fowler Jr. will play his first home game since being drafted in the first round in 2015 and missing hhis rookie year to a knee injury.ddddddddddddHe was kicked off the field Thursday following a fight with Buccaneers guard Ali Marpet.Rookie kicker Roberto Aguayo could use a few a touchdowns by the Tampa Bay offense. The 59th overall pick in the draft missed his only extra-point try last week, before making a 38-yard field goal.ALL EYES ON OSWEILER- New Orleans at Houston, 8 p.m.All eyes will be on No. 17 for the Texans as Brock Osweiler makes his home debut. Osweiler played four series last week at San Francisco, going 4 for 7 for 27 yards and failing to lead the Texans to any scores. Hes the new quarterback after signing a $72 million contract to leave Super Bowl champion Denver.The Texans and Saints held joint practices this week. Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who played only one series last week at New England, is expected to last a little longer this week before getting the hook.QUARTERBACK CLARITY?- San Francisco at Denver, 9 p.m.Blaine Gabbert will again get the stage to himself in San Franciscos starting quarterback derby, with Colin Kaepernick set to sit out a second game with a tired shoulder. Gabbert started 1 for 6 at Houston last week, before finishing with a touchdown pass to Vance McDonald. Christian Ponder also is expected to debut with the 49ers after signing this week as the third-stringer.Denver quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Trevor Siemian are currently listed as co-starters, with coach Gary Kubiak yet to declare a starter. There are questions all over the Broncos offense, with Cody Latimer and Jordan Norwood trying to grab the No. 3 wide receiver spot and Ronnie Hillman trying to fend off Kapri Bibbs and rookie Devonte Booker to be the backup running back behind C.J. Anderson.MOVING UP- Kansas City at Los Angeles, 9 p.m.The first pick in the draft, quarterback Jared Goff, is expected to take turns with the first team for Los Angeles. Transitioning from a spread offense at Cal to a pro-style scheme with the Rams, Goff has struggled at times in training camp with snaps and footwork under center.In the second game for the Rams back in Los Angeles, running back Todd Gurley, defensive end Robert Quinn and cornerback E.J. Gaines are queued up for action after sitting out last week.Chiefs quarterback Nick Foles will get some time against his former team. Benched as the Rams starter last year, Foles signed with Kansas City two weeks ago to back up Alex Smith.EXPERIMENTING WITH EIGHTThe NFL, as it did in the second week of last years preseason games, will experiment with an eighth on-field official. The league has used seven-person officiating crews since 1978, when the side judge was added. The middle judge will be 20 yards downfield, focusing on the center and guards with an emphasis on spotting defensive holding penalties.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and Twitter: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '