MLB Post-season outlook: Can the Detroit Tigers overpower the New York Yankees?
The last time Detroit Tigers went to the playoffs, they made it all the way through to the World Series. Five years later, they are making the trip again and it will be vital to see how far this saga lasts. Having lost to St. Louis Cardinals in 2006, the
Tigers will be clawing to get their hands on the World Series title and avenge their bitter defeat.
The Tigers dominated the American League Central Division and emerged victorious with a handsome win-loss record of 95-67. Lack of quality competition can be cited as one reason for their dominance, but a winning percentage of .586 suggests that reasons
other than this played a vital role as well. The Cleveland Indians seemed content on the top notch before the All-Star break but thereafter, the Tigers gained momentum and will now be positive to replicate that in the five-game Divisional Series against the
New York Yankees.
Their record against the Yankees has been above par in the regular season and a similar result in the playoffs might well see them go through to the Championship Series. In the seven games played during the regular season, the Tigers lead the Yankees 4-3
and Justin Verlander has been at the core of this achievement.
Verlander bagged 24 wins in the season and is the top-candidate for the AL Cy Young Award. His earned-run average of 2.40 was the best in the league and the Tigers will heavily bank on his precision to keep the Yankees at bay. Undoubtedly the most offensive
line-up in the Majors, the Yankees will have to carefully tackle Verlander and tactfully score against him. A complete game effort by Verlander will not be a surprise, given his ability and arm strength.
Tigers acquired Doug Fister from the Seattle Mariners during the mid-season trade deadline and the starter has proved his selection to be worthy. In his 11 starts after being acquired, Fister has won eight starts and has dropped just one in this stretch
at an imposing earned-run average of 1.79. He is likely to start Game 2 behind Verlander.
Completing the rotation for Detroit is the flamboyant Max Scherzer, who finished the season with a career-high 15 wins. Renowned for his hasty fastball, Scherzer has the ability to strike-out batters at will and he displayed that during the regular season,
striking-out 174 batters in 195 innings. These numbers suggest his explosive nature and with the hard-hitting Yankees to play against, it can be anybody’s game.
The three-prong rotation will not be easy to deal with, especially when the opposition is determined to score majorly on home-runs. A sensible approach by the pitchers will surely give the Tigers an upper-hand in the series.
If the starters manage to restrict the Yankees to a decent total, Jose Valverde is capable enough of closing things safely. A perfect record of 49 saves from as many attempts highlight his ability to counter quality line-ups as manager Jim Leyland will want
his MVP candidate to replicate a perfect record in the playoffs.
The Tigers, however, lack offensive power with only Miguel Cabrera at the core of it. Cabrera averaged an AL-best of .344 and drove in 105 runs in addition to belting 30 home-runs. The Yankees, lacking depth in the rotation, will be satisfied with this and
will have high hopes of prevailing in the series.
Adjudging all aspects, the odds of Yankees going through to the ALCS remain on the higher side. However, with a top-quality pitching opposition up against a league-best offence, the series is expected to go down to the wire.
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