The calendar has now flipped over to September. Which means, the pennant chase is here. The Detroit Tigers are currently a half game out of first place with the Chicago White Sox.

If the Tigers hope to be playing baseball when it’s October, there are five players they need to step up, not only in September, but in the playoffs if they make it.

Doug Fister: Fister has been nothing short of outstanding in the second half. But one thing he has not been able to do is stay healthy. Every time he has a bad start, it seems like it always follows up with something about Fister being hurt. The Tigers need Fister to stay healthy. Not only for September, but a pontential playoff push. With Max Scherzer pitching as good as anyone, with a healthy Fister on the mound, the Tigers have a lethal one through three.