Anthony Fenech

Detroit Free Press

ATLANTA – Michael Fulmer’s chances at the American League ERA title might not be over.

If the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians are forced to play the final game of the season on Monday afternoon at Comerica Park, it will be Fulmer on the mound, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said before Friday night’s series opener against the Braves.

“Yeah, we’d have to,” Ausmus said. “We’re short on choices. He hasn’t pitched great against the Indians but he’s been our second best pitcher. That’s basically what we’re going to have to do.”

At this point of the season, the Tigers can’t play the “What if?” game and push Fulmer back for a potential AL wild card game. He would be pitching on regular rest, having thrown last on Wednesday night.

“Every game is going to be a must win,” Ausmus said. “So we’re going to go with who we think can help us win, really, because we’re playing so many days in a row. If we keep playing, you keep guys on regular rest and hope he has a good day. We’re not in a position of being able to set up our pitching.”

Fulmer is three innings short of qualifying for the AL ERA title. He has a 3.07 ERA this season, behind only Blue Jays right-hander Aaron Sanchez. If he is to win the ERA title, he would be the first rookie since Mark Fidrych in 1976 to accomplish the feat.

Fulmer has struggled against the Indians this season. In four starts, he has a 6.98 ERA and 1.97 WHIP. Against the rest of his opponents, he has a 2.38 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. Still, the Tigers will be playing day-by-day at that point, and can’t risk having their season ended with Fulmer watching from the dugout.

Monday’s potential make-up game will be played at 1:10 p.m. It will be played if the Tigers are within a half-game of the second AL wild card, or if there are home-field advantage or seeding implications on the line for the Indians.

Contact Anthony Fenech: afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech. Download our Tigers Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!