Chicago White Sox (77-82) at Detroit Tigers (85-74), 7:05 p.m.

Sports Network | October 2, 2009

(Sports Network) - The Detroit Tigers take aim at their first division title since 1987 this evening, when they open a three-game series with the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park.

Detroit holds a magic number of two, meaning any combination of two Tigers wins or Minnesota Twins losses this weekend would put Jim Leyland's team into the postseason for the second time in the last four years, and give them their first-ever American League Central title as well.

The Tigers' last division crown came 22 years ago, when the club captured the AL East in 1987.

"We know we're in the driver's seat," catcher Gerald Laird said. "We just have to keep playing good baseball like we have at home, and we'll be celebrating."

The Tigers, though, are hoping that history does not repeat itself. They were in a similar position back in 2006, needing just one win with five games to play to finish off the Twins for the division title. However, Detroit lost them all and was swept at home by the last-place Kansas City Royals to end the year and settled for the Wild Card.

However, the Tigers caught fire in the playoffs that year and advanced to the World Series, where they lost to St. Louis in five games.

Detroit had a chance to end things on Thursday but came up short, falling 8-3 to Minnesota. Laird went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Curtis Granderson knocked in a run in the loss.

Tigers starter Nate Robertson (2-3) was tagged for four runs -- three earned -- on nine hits with two strikeouts over six-plus innings of work.

"[The Twins] played good baseball this series," said Robertson. "I didn't beat myself, I made them beat me and they did."

Getting the call tonight for the Tigers will be right-hander Edwin Jackson, who has lost two of his last three starts. Jackson was defeated by the White Sox his last time out, surrendering five runs and seven hits in seven innings to fall to 13-8 to go along with a 3.36 earned run average.

Jackson has faced the White Sox seven times over his career and is 1-3 with a 5.66 ERA against them.

Chicago, meanwhile, will counter with former NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy, who has won both of his starts with the White Sox. Peavy was brilliant on Saturday against the Tigers, scattering six hits over seven scoreless innings to win for the sixth time in his last seven starts overall.

Peavy was dealt by San Diego to Chicago at the trade deadline, but an ankle injury and a subsequent setback along the way delayed his debut with the Pale Hose.

The 28-year-old right-hander is 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in two starts versus the Tigers.

Chicago, which comes into this series having won three of its last four overall, has dropped eight of its 15 meetings with the Tigers this season.