Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers: Some things to keep an eye on the Rangers and Tigers set for things ALCS: Who playgrounds of two for the Rangers? We know that CJ Wilson and Justin Verlander are expected to become entangled in what should be fun. But what about Game 2! The Rangers could keep their same rotation and go with Derek Holland in Game 2 at home and send Colby Lewis, whose road splits were much better than his home ones, in Game 3 at Comerica Park. Lewis is coming off a solid outing in Tampa in a pivotal Game 3. Holland was able to grind out a solid start as well in Game 2, so the Rangers may elect to just leave things the way they had it. That would include Matt Harrison in Game 4, also on the road. Wilson and Verlander would likely go at it again in Game 5 in Detroit, if both stay on normal rest. Jim Leyland decision Verlander threw a side session of more than 50 pitches before Game 5 at Yankee Stadium a few people raise their eyebrows. But he sent a clear message to Doug Fister this game was the party of 5. And the Tigers got the win without having to use their ace. Game 2 starting for the Tigers, Max Scherzer, who started 1 1 / 3 innings in Game 5 probably could. That would leave Doug Fister, which began in Game 5 for Game 3 on Tuesday in Detroit rest. Look at the large gardens in the area of ​​Comerica. Craig Gentry said Thursday that he's ready for that area to cover a lot of ground and Josh Hamilton said he'd be fine, but noted there was plenty of room in center out there. The Rangers must decide whether to carry an extra pitcher. It seems likely they'll do that, but which one? Darren O'Day and Yoshinori Tateyama threw side sessions on Thursday and they seem to be the leading candidates. Michael Kirkman could also be considered. Both Texas and Detroit benefited from great bullpens in the ALDS. Joaquin Benoit pitched in and out of a jam in the seventh on Thursday and Jose Valverde didn't blow a save all season. The Rangers have Alexi Ogando, Mike Adams and Neftali Feliz for the final three innings. Watching these two bullpens work should be fun -- and you better score some runs early. Ogando started in all three of the Rangers' wins vs. Detroit and posted a 1.29 ERA and the Tigers batted just .205 against him. He allowed three runs on 18 hits in 21 innings 18 strikeouts, three walks. Regular season results aren't necessarily a great gauge of how a postseason series will go. That's especially true for the Rangers against the Tigers. Why? For starters, they weren't particularly healthy when playing Detroit (after all, Hamilton got hurt in the first series up there) and many of the players that found their way into games aren't even on the roster anymore. Dave Bush started one game against the Tigers with bullpen pieces coming in that won't be on the postseason roster. Plus, the bullpen let some games get away early in the season vs. Detroit and it's not the same bullpen in Texas now. The last time the two teams played was Aug. 4. A lot has happened for both teams since then. Is Verlander to the Tigers like Cliff Lee was to the Rangers in last year's ALCS? Lee pitched only once in the ALCS in 2010.
But he hung over the series. The Yankees knew they had the pressure on them to win the first two on the road knowing Lee was waiting. Verlander will pitch at least twice in this series. If he wins those games, it gives the Tigers a big edge. But if Wilson gets the better of Verlander, it's a huge boost for Texas. So those games should be fun and big for momentum. Of course, the Tigers could decide to go with Verlander on short rest and he's said he's willing and pitches him in Game 4 and Game 7. Remains to be seen Rangers hit .275 as a team against the Tigers, but the part that was a very good game. They need to Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus hit them better than they did in the regular season.