Duane Burleson/Associated Press Indians third baseman Jack Hannahan, left, reaches back to tag the TigersÕ Casper Wells, right, in front of third base umpire Ted Barrett when the teams played June 14. Detroit and Cleveland enter the second half today separated by a half-game in the American League Central.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Pat Caputo’s accompanying column on why the Tigers will win the A.L. Central can be found HERE.

Finally! A year when the Indians and Tigers are both good at the same time!

As the Indians and Tigers begin the second half of the season with just a half-game separating them in the Central Division, the best thing the Indians have going for them is their advantage over the Tigers in the most important aspect of the game.

Pitching.



It’s the main reason, probably the only reason, I like the Indians to win the division over the Tigers.

That’s not to say the White Sox couldn’t leap-frog both teams and win the division, but the discussion here is which team — Cleveland or Detroit — has a better chance to win the division.

I’ll take Cleveland.

The Indians, quite simply, are the least-flawed team in a division filled with flawed teams. What the Indians have going for them most is what the Tigers have going for them least — pitching. The Tigers’ biggest flaw is their pitching — which is the Indians’ biggest strength.

The last time I checked, you win with pitching.

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