The stage is set in Boston for the American League Championship Series between the Red Sox (97-65) and the Detroit Tigers (93-69.) The Sox begin their quest for a World Championship in Fenway Park, well-rested after finishing off the Rays in four games in the Division Series. Detroit was tested against the Oakland Athletics in a series that went a full five games, eventually coming out on top thanks largely to ace starting pitcher Justin Verlander.
Tonight, the Red Sox send Opening Day starter Jon Lester to the mound against Anibal Sanchez. Both pitchers came back strong in 2013 after disappointment the previous season – Sanchez winning the ERA title (2.57) and Lester cutting his 2012 ERA by almost a run and a half and throwing a solid 213.1 innings. Sanchez was roughed up in his single start against the Athletics, allowing eight hits and five earned runs in only 4.1 innings, while Lester threw a 7.2-inning, three-hit gem against the Rays in Boston.
Team defense is one factor that could affect both pitchers' outcomes, and no team has a greater liability at the hot corner that the Tigers do with Miguel Cabrera. Never the most nimble third baseman in the league, Cabrera has been injured for a good part of the second half, further compromising his mobility in the field. The Athletics – outside of an ill-placed sacrifice attempt by Josh Reddick - did not test Cabrera with the bunt play. The Red Sox should look to exploit this defensive hole.
Of course, the need to sacrifice could well be snuffed out by both teams’ explosive offenses. The Tigers and Red Sox are one and two in team batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage, with Boston ending Detroit in the latter two categories. However, while the Red Sox stayed hot in September, Detroit’s team numbers took a dip despite competing late into the season for the AL Central title while Boston had long since clinched the East.
Oakland kept Cabrera off the bases, for the most part, accumulating only five hits and one free pass in 20 at-bats in the ALDS. The team’s hottest hitters in the series were Jhonny Peralta and designated hitter Victor Martinez, who batted .450 with three extra-base knocks, one of them a controversial home run call that cost the A’s Game Four, and possibly the series. Quintin Berry, used esclusively as a pinch-runner, stole one base in the ALDS and has never been caught in his career (27-for-27, regular- and postseason.)
For the Red Sox, Jacoby Ellsbury is a threat to run – and to go deep – in the leadoff position, batting .500 in the ALDS and stealing four bases. David Ortiz has been resurgent in his first playoff action since 2009, hitting two home runs against the Rays’ ace David Price in Game Two. As a team, the Red Sox batted .286 in the series, good for first among American League teams in the 2013 LDS.
At the back end of the bullpen, both teams come in without a big-name closer, but with solid arms who have risen to the occasion. Koji Uehara emerged this season as the Red Sox ninth-inning man, and shut down Tampa Bay in three appearances. Lefty Craig Breslow is more than just a match-up LOOGY, going 3.2 innings in the Division Series and striking out four. The Tigers’ Joaquin Benoit was shaky in Game Two, loading the bases in the bottom of the ninth and allowing a walk-off single to Stephen Vogt to surrender the game, however the closer has a track record of postseason success with Detroit. Adding Phil Coke to the ALCS roster gives the team another match-up option against Boston’s toughest lefties – particularly David Ortiz.
The series will open in Boston for two games, then head to Detroit for the next three, returning to Boston if necessary for Games Five and Six. Tune in for the first game at 8:00 PM Eastern/5:00 PM Pacific on FOX.