Which American League team will finish with the best record during the regular season? After all, that team will have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, by virtue of the AL's victory in the All-Star Game. Currently the leader is Detroit (94-62, .603), followed by New York (93-62, .600) and Minnesota (92-63, .594). The importance of home-field advantage in October shouldn't be underestimated. Since 1982, the team with home-field advantage has won 19 of 23 World Series. The only clubs to overcome home-field advantage in this stretch are the 1984 Tigers, 1992 Jays, 1999 Yankees and 2003 Marlins. Clinching a World Series title on the road in a sixth or seventh game has been nearly impossible, with the home team posting an 18-3 record in Games 6 and 7 since 1982. No home team has lost a Game 7 since Pittsburgh came back from a 3-1 deficit and won the final two games at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium to claim the 1979 Fall Classic. Since then, the home team is 8-0 in Game 7. The schedule may favor the Tigers, who host Toronto and Kansas City to close out the season. They are 14-1 against the Royals and have taken two of three from the Jays this season. The Yankees finish a weekend set at Tampa Bay tonight before hosting Baltimore and Toronto. They are 10-6 against the Orioles and 9-6 against the Jays. The Twins also are home, with four against the Royals and three against the White Sox. They are 9-6 versus the Royals, 9-7 facing Chicago. Unless the Twins can build on their current 12-4 surge, which is possible in light of their impressive playoff push after a 25-33 start, it seems likely the Yankees and Tigers will vie for the top seed in the playoffs.