With Friday night's loss in Miami and Boston's win in Baltimore, the Detroit Tigers appear to be headed to an ALDS rematch with the Oakland Athletics.

Last year's series was an exciting one, to say the least. The Tigers grabbed an early 2-0 series lead at home after a walk-off sacrifice fly by Don Kelly, but Oakland rallied back and tied the series after a blown save by Tiger closer Jose Valverde in Game Four. In the winner-take-all Game Five, Justin Verlander dominated the Oakland hitters for the second time in the series, sending Detroit to the American League Championship Series.

This year's series should be just as tight, as both teams appear to be even better than they were a year ago.

With Detroit's loss on Friday night, they were guaranteed the third seed in the American League playoffs, meaning Oakland will have home-field advantage. As strange as it may seem, this may turn out to be a good thing for the Tigers.

If the past is any indicator, Oakland also had home-field advantage when they played Detroit last year and in 2006 as well. The Tigers ended up winning both series.

Also, the Tigers took two of three games in Oakland, while the Athletics won three of four in Detroit. The A's would have ended up with the four-game sweep if it wasn't for Torii Hunter's late-game heroics in the ninth inning.

By starting on the road, the Tigers can use their best pitchers (Cy Young favorite Max Scherzer and ERA-leader Anibal Sanchez) to try to gain an advantage in hostile territory. Justin Verlander and Doug Fister would then pitch in the friendly confines of Comerica Park in Games Three and Four.

If the series were to go to the distance, Scherzer would be on the hill again in Oakland. While  O.co Coliseum is an intimidating ballpark, Justin Verlander finished the Athletics' season with ease in front of their home crowd in last year's Game Five. Scherzer could definitely do the same this season if he were put in the same position.

Oakland's pitching staff, which includes Bartolo Colon and Jarrod Parker, is dangerous as well. Both have been pitching excellent lately and could cause all sorts of trouble for the powerful Tigers lineup.

Speaking of which, the Tigers likely hold the advantage in the matchup when it comes to offense. Detroit's lineup could very well be the deadliest in all of baseball, led by Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder and Victor Martinez.

Cabrera is coming off of one of the greatest offensive seasons in baseball history, and Fielder and Martinez have been tearing the cover off the ball lately.

Jhonny Peralta has also returned to the Tigers lineup and will likely play left field for most of the playoffs. Peralta was having a terrific year until he was suspended for 50 games for being involved in the Biogenesis scandal.

Second baseman Omar Infante has also been red-hot in the past month and has proven to be quite the clutch hitter in big situations.

One of the most important parts to this year's Tigers team, however, is Torii Hunter. He provides a huge boost to the team's morale and is the perfect veteran leader for this team.

This year's series between the Tigers and Athletics could turn out to be an all-time classic. It is tough to predict who will advance to the next round, but one thing is for certain: Detroit and Oakland are developing a great rivalry and will provide for some more October magic in 2013.