The greatest comeback in MLB history might be unfolding right in front of us

The Detroit Tigers had a 99.8 percent chance to win the AL Central in September. A few weeks later, they might give it to the Cleveland Indians.

Tradition in Major League Baseball dictates that teams celebrate milestone victories with booze-soaked clubhouse parties. And on Sept. 1, it surely seemed safe for the Detroit Tigers to begin ordering champagne.

Even after a loss to start September, the Tigers were given a 99.8 percent chance that day to win the American League's Central division by FanGraphs. Detroit's odds of winning the division would remain at 99.0 percent or higher for the next two weeks, too. With the postseason beginning at month's end, it appeared likely the Tigers could earn one of the two first-round playoff byes that go to the two division winners with the best records.

Yet beginning Sept. 11, the Tigers lost 11 of their next 12 games to begin a spectacular free-fall — one that could ultimately set MLB history.

A loss Wednesday dropped the Tigers out of first place in the AL Central for the first time in 155 days. In the standings, they were looking up to Cleveland — the same Guardians who, on July 6, were 15 1/2 games behind the Tigers in the standings. At that point, only three American League teams had worse records than Cleveland.

“It’s painful,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told reporters Wednesday.