After going 31–13 to end the season, Detroit is the hottest team in baseball, presenting a daunting challenge to any team standing in its way this October.

Tigers fever has swept across Metro Detroit for Tuesday's Game 1 showdown against the Houston Astros. The big picture: Just as fans settled in for the most-anticipated Lions season in years, the Tigers crashed the fall sports scene with an improbable hot streak that catapulted them into the MLB playoffs for the first time since 2014.

Lenyn Sosa hit a three-run homer in the third inning to give the Chicago White Sox a five-run lead as they went on to beat the playoff-bound Detroit Tigers 9-5 on Sunday.