New York Yankees’ Ivan Nova faces Detroit Tigers’ Doug Fister in series finale – MLB Preview
It is always hard to deny the importance of the starters in any Major League Baseball game, but talking about the pitchers who are going to start the most awaited outing of the season, has always been a source of excitement for baseball fans.
Game 5 between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers has taken the shape of a series finale. Although it is the American League Division Series finale, the significance for both teams is almost equivalent to that of a World Series finale. The matchup,
which is scheduled for Thursday, October 6 at Yankee Stadium, will bring two highly acclaimed starters into action.
Ivan Nova, who led the Yankees in the first outing of the playoffs series with a 9-3 win at Yankee Stadium on September 30, will again be handed the responsibility to take the club into the World Series. Nova has a reputation to repeat his performance in
Game 5 and his team-mates are looking for a solid start from him in the most crucial outing of the season.
Previous outing was handed to him after CC Sabathia gave away a run in his first two innings. The game was the make-up of the rain suspended first outing of the series. However, the 24-year-old pitcher did not lose any focus and filled just over six innings
with fastballs, changeups and perfect sliders to help the Yankees start their post-season journey with a win.
His 101 pitches were considered a little high, but he did not show any sign of fatigue throughout the game. He struck-out five batters and allowed only two runs over four hits. Nova allowed four walks which were crucial but he managed to remove this threat
with his perfect retaliation after each walk.
The one-year veteran pitcher also has a strong season at his back to justify his appointment in the most vital outing. He has a 16-4 record with a 3.70 ERA in 27 starts and held the fourth position in the American League in wins, after Justin Verlander,
CC Sabathia and Jered Weaver.
Nova will have to face his weaker contender, Doug Fister who has a 0-1 record with an 11.57 ERA in the post-season. The last time Fister continued the rain suspended first outing in place of Justin Verlander, he was completely out of sorts and struggled.
Fister allowed six runs on seven hits and walked two batters in just over four innings. He consumed 90 pitches and made only six strike-outs.
His spell worked as a gift for the Yankees, who kept on touching fast hits and brilliant base runs. Fister will now have to make his start on new grounds as the Yankees’ powerful batting can ruin not only his outing, but also the Tigers’ entire season.
The batting combination that the Yankees landed in the last outing was perfect for all of their post-season outings. Girardi will be having the same option in his mind and if Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter combined at any stage during the outing, they can
become a nightmare couple for the Tigers.
It will be exciting to see these two dynamic and highly talented pitchers go head-to-head in the ALDS finale with the winner advancing to the American League Championship Series. With both teams level in the Series, all eyes will be on these two starters
as the pressure builds.
The Yankees have the depth and the experience of being in these types of situations before, as the Tigers are still adapting to their new found success. Both teams will fight hard and try to dominate the proceedings early, as they go for a decisive victory
and move one step closer to the coveted World Series.
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