The Detroit Tigers look to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the best of seven ALCS matchup with the New York Yankees. The homestanding Tigers must feel really good about their chances here considering that they are sending ace Justin Verlander to the hill.

Meanwhile the Yankees, who are countering with Phil Hughes, are sitting both Alex Rodriguez and Nick Swisher against the aforementioned Verlander. This means that one-third of their starting lineup will not be on the field today after Derek Jeter went down to a tragic broken ankle on Saturday night.

Things might not be looking up for New York, but this is still a battle tested unit that will not go away quietly.

Let’s take a look at the Game 3 pitching matchup and analyze how each lineup might perform against quality arms. 

Hughes struggled a great deal on the road this season, posting an ERA that was a full run more than at home. He did, however, pitch a strong game at home against the Baltimore Orioles in Game 4 of the ALDS. Hughes pitched 6.2 innings, striking out eight and giving up just a lone run. It wasn't enough as the O's took the game 2-1. 

Overall, Hughes is 1-2 in four career postseason starts. He has pitched in a total of 17 career playoff games, most of them coming in relief during his younger years. 

Career-wise, Hughes is 5-4 with a 4.22 ERA in 10 appearances (eight starts) against Detroit. He went 1-1 in two starts against the Tigers this season, pitching a CG back in Detroit back in June. New York won that game 5-1 as Hughes struckout eight and gave up just four hits. Interestingly enough, he defeated Justin Verlander in that matchup. 

Miguel Cabrera has done the most damage of any of the Tigers hitters against Hughes. He is batting a robust .409 in 22-at bats with four homers and nine RBI's. But, who hasn't Cabrera had success against? Meanwhile, Prince Fielder, Austin Jackson, Alex Avila and Quintin Berry have gone a combined 3-for-29 (.103) with just one homer against Hughes in their careers. If the talented starter can find a way to pitch around Cabrera, which is a difficult task, he could be in good shape as it relates to the rest of the Tigers lineup. 

Verlander was the most dominating pitcher I had seen in a great time in the Tigers ALDS victory over the Oakland A's. He struckout 22 in just 16 innings, giving up one run and a total of seven hits. His WHIP in those two starts was an astonishing 0.75. Now I understand that the A's broke an American League record for strikeouts, but that is still mighty impressive. 

The reigning AL Cy Young Award Winner has been damn near untouchable at home this season as well. He posted a 1.65 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP at Comerica during the regular year. That being said, one of his worst home outings in 2012 came against Hughes and the Yankees. He yielded five runs (three earned) in 6.1 innings. Verlander gave up a whopping two homers, nine hits and four walks during that 5-1 loss. 

Overall, Verlander is 5-4 with a 3.74 ERA in 13 career starts against the Yankees. Not the greatest numbers for the dominating pitcher against a team, but still pretty damn solid. 

Interestingly enough, Eric Chavez, who is replacing Alex Rodriguez in the lineup tonight, has the best track record of any Yankee' hitter against Verlander. He is 9-for-25 with three extra-base hits against the Tigers starter. Meanwhile, Mark Teixeira is batting .083 (3-for-35) with 12 strikeouts against Verlander in his career. 

It is worth mentioning that the two New York regulars getting benched in Game 3, Rodriguez and Swisher, have gone a combined 11-for-59 (.186) with 29 strikeouts in their careers against Verlander. 

Prediction 

I am just not too sure that the Yankees are going to be able to solve the equation that is Justin Verlander. It really doesn't help that their captain, Derek Jeter, is going to miss the rest of the postseason. As has been mentioned by multiple media outlets, Jeter had started all 158 career postseason games since joining New York in 1995. 

Hughes might be able to keep the game close, but in the end the more dominating pitcher puts the Tigers in a commanding 3-0 position entering Game 4 tomorrow.