The worst team in the majors last season is feeling good about themselves 13 games into this abbreviated 60-game schedule.
The Detroit Tigers enter their home game against the visiting Chicago White Sox on Monday with an 8-5 record. They swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-game series in Pittsburgh over the weekend, capped by a 2-1 win on Sunday.
Detroit scored 28 runs during the first two games, then showed it could win with pitching and defense.
"We're in the games now," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We've got some veteran players who help keep us in games.