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DETROIT ( SCHERZER ) BALTIMORE ( TILLMAN ) |
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| 7ov | 3 Final 12 |
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AL Division Series - Best of 5 - Game 1 | | | |
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901 | DETROIT | -125 | Ov 7,-110 | -110 | Ov 7,-125 | 902 | BALTIMORE | +115 | Un 7,-110 | +100 | Un 7,+105 |
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All Games | 90-72 | -3.6 | 83-72 | 4.7 | 0.277 | 0.329 | 4.4 | 0.263 | 0.319 | Road Games | 45-36 | +5 | 40-38 | 4.9 | 0.272 | 0.321 | 4.2 | 0.261 | 0.318 | vs Right-handed Starters | 62-50 | -2.7 | 59-49 | 4.7 | 0.273 | 0.327 | 4.3 | 0.263 | 0.322 | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | -1.5 | 2-4 | 3.4 | 0.249 | 0.307 | 4.4 | 0.245 | 0.299 | Grass Games | 87-69 | -3.1 | 80-69 | 4.7 | 0.279 | 0.331 | 4.4 | 0.265 | 0.320 | Night Games | 58-44 | +0.7 | 53-46 | 4.7 | 0.280 | 0.329 | 4.3 | 0.263 | 0.315 |
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All Games | 4.7 | 0.277 | 0.329 | 162 | 5630 | 1557 | 506 | 155 | 0.03 | 731 | 443 | 1144 | 106 | 1111 | 161 | 100 | | | Road Games | 4.9 | 0.272 | 0.321 | 81 | 2949 | 801 | 268 | 79 | 0.03 | 382 | 216 | 643 | 50 | 562 | 77 | 49 | | | Righty Starters | 4.7 | 0.273 | 0.327 | 112 | 3902 | 1065 | 357 | 109 | 0.03 | 512 | 311 | 794 | 75 | 762 | 113 | 60 | | |
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All Games | 4.29 | 1.479 | 447 | 235 | 213 | 469 | 43 | 192 | 385 | 22-17 | 41 | 16 | 71.9% | Road Games | 3.85 | 1.427 | 224.3 | 106 | 96 | 224 | 20 | 96 | 196 | 12-11 | 23 | 11 | 67.6% |
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All Games | 96-66 | +35 | 69-89 | 4.4 | 0.256 | 0.306 | 3.7 | 0.243 | 0.303 | Home Games | 50-31 | +14.3 | 30-47 | 4.2 | 0.258 | 0.309 | 3.5 | 0.238 | 0.297 | vs Right-handed Starters | 74-47 | +31.3 | 56-61 | 4.5 | 0.260 | 0.309 | 3.8 | 0.245 | 0.304 | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -0.2 | 3-4 | 3.4 | 0.226 | 0.272 | 4.0 | 0.233 | 0.281 | Grass Games | 85-59 | +29.2 | 61-79 | 4.4 | 0.259 | 0.307 | 3.7 | 0.241 | 0.301 | Night Games | 71-36 | +40.4 | 44-59 | 4.5 | 0.260 | 0.309 | 3.2 | 0.227 | 0.285 |
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All Games | 4.4 | 0.256 | 0.306 | 162 | 5596 | 1434 | 491 | 211 | 0.04 | 681 | 401 | 1285 | 44 | 1088 | 127 | 90 | | | Home Games | 4.2 | 0.258 | 0.309 | 81 | 2731 | 705 | 237 | 107 | 0.04 | 325 | 199 | 614 | 20 | 543 | 67 | 43 | | | Righty Starters | 4.5 | 0.260 | 0.309 | 121 | 4201 | 1091 | 359 | 152 | 0.04 | 525 | 297 | 958 | 37 | 822 | 88 | 67 | | |
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All Games | 3.08 | 1.158 | 507.6 | 192 | 174 | 430 | 42 | 158 | 442 | 28-21 | 53 | 19 | 73.6% | Home Games | 2.95 | 1.122 | 262 | 92 | 86 | 211 | 19 | 83 | 222 | 17-6 | 22 | 8 | 73.3% |
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9/19/2014 | VERLANDER(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | VARGAS(L) | 10-1 | W | 105 | 7.5 ov | O | 19 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 9/20/2014 | SCHERZER(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | SHIELDS(R) | 3-2 | W | 100 | 7 un | U | 7 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 9/21/2014 | PORCELLO(R) | @ KANSAS CITY | GUTHRIE(R) | 2-5 | L | -105 | 8 un | U | 6 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 9/22/2014 | LOBSTEIN(L) | CHI WHITE SOX | BASSITT(R) | 0-2 | L | -180 | 9 un | U | 6 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 9/23/2014 | PRICE(L) | CHI WHITE SOX | CARROLL(R) | 4-3 | W | -305 | 8 un | U | 9 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 9/24/2014 | VERLANDER(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | SALE(L) | 6-1 | W | -105 | 7 un | P | 10 | 9 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 9/25/2014 | SCHERZER(R) | MINNESOTA | MAY(R) | 4-2 | W | -300 | 7.5 un | U | 8 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 9/26/2014 | PORCELLO(R) | MINNESOTA | SWARZAK(R) | 4-11 | L | -205 | 8 ev | O | 10 | 8 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 9/27/2014 | LOBSTEIN(L) | MINNESOTA | NOLASCO(R) | 3-12 | L | -165 | 8.5 un | O | 9 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 9 | 0 | 9/28/2014 | PRICE(L) | MINNESOTA | GIBSON(R) | 3-0 | W | -235 | 7.5 un | U | 4 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 10/2/2014 | SCHERZER(R) | @ BALTIMORE | TILLMAN(R) | |
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9/19/2014 | GAUSMAN(R) | BOSTON | WEBSTER(R) | 3-5 | L | -150 | 8 un | P | 10 | 7 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 1 | 9/20/2014 | TILLMAN(R) | BOSTON | DE LA ROSA(R) | 7-2 | W | -165 | 8 un | O | 11 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 9/21/2014 | GONZALEZ(R) | BOSTON | KELLY(R) | 2-3 | L | -145 | 8.5 un | U | 6 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 8 | 0 | 9/22/2014 | CHEN(L) | @ NY YANKEES | PINEDA(R) | 0-5 | L | 105 | 7 un | U | 1 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 9/23/2014 | JIMENEZ(R) | @ NY YANKEES | MCCARTHY(R) | 5-4 | W | 155 | 7 un | O | 17 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 9/24/2014 | NORRIS(R) | @ NY YANKEES | GREENE(R) | 9-5 | W | 115 | 7 un | O | 15 | 9 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 9/25/2014 | GAUSMAN(R) | @ NY YANKEES | KURODA(R) | 5-6 | L | 120 | 7 un | O | 5 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 9/26/2014 | TILLMAN(R) | @ TORONTO | HUTCHISON(R) | 2-4 | L | 115 | 7.5 un | U | 6 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 8 | 1 | 9/27/2014 | CHEN(L) | @ TORONTO | HAPP(L) | 2-4 | L | 100 | 8 ev | U | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 9/28/2014 | GONZALEZ(R) | @ TORONTO | DICKEY(R) | 1-0 | W | 110 | 8 un | U | 5 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 10/2/2014 | TILLMAN(R) | DETROIT | SCHERZER(R) | |
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| | | DETROIT: DETROIT (AP) - When Justin Verlander takes the mound for Detroit on opening day, maybe then the Tigers will be able to enjoy a much-needed sense of normalcy.
As an offseason of drama gave way to spring training injuries, it was easy to forget the Tigers still have one of the most talented rosters in baseball. Sure, there have been some early problems for new manager Brad Ausmus to address, Detroit still figures to be the favorite to win its fourth consecutive AL Central title.
''We have a new look this year,'' outfielder Torii Hunter said. ''Little bit more speed and we'll miss the big man, but we'll score some runs.''
The ''big man'' is Prince Fielder, whom the Tigers traded to Texas in a blockbuster deal that brought second baseman Ian Kinsler to Detroit. That move gave the Tigers more financial flexibility, although they weren't all that aggressive in pursuing free agents. Detroit did sign Joe Nathan to replace departed closer Joaquin Benoit.
The Tigers also traded right-hander Doug Fister to Washington.
Lately, the focus has been on right-hander Max Scherzer, who enters his final season before free agency after winning the Cy Young Award in 2013. Negotiations with the Tigers on a long-term deal have stalled.
''They respect where I'm at. I respect where they're at, and we'll revisit this after the season,'' Scherzer said. ''I still want to be in Detroit. I love this clubhouse and everything about it. There's been a history of this team signing free agents so hopefully I'll be a part of that history as well.''
But right now Scherzer's future is uncertain, and with Hunter and Victor Martinez in the final season of their contracts, it's hard to say what Detroit's 2015 roster will look like.
So the Tigers may never have a better chance to win a World Series with this group than right now.
| | BALTIMORE: BALTIMORE (AP) - The transformation of the Baltimore Orioles clubhouse under manager Buck Showalter is complete.
No longer do the Orioles hope to win. They expect it.
When Showalter took over in July 2010, he inherited a team with the worst record in the majors. Having gone without a winning season since 1997, Baltimore could only hope Showalter's knack for orchestrating quick turnarounds would take hold in a town that had switched its allegiance from baseball to football.
By 2012, the Orioles were back. Baltimore won 93 games, beat Texas in the wild-card matchup and took the New York Yankees to the limit before falling in the AL division series.
After missing the postseason last year, the Orioles are poised for a return. They maintained the nucleus of a team that went 85-77 and was in contention to the final week, then added right-handed starter Ubaldo Jimenez and slugger Nelson Cruz to an already potent lineup that led the majors in home runs in 2013.
''When you have talent, you have confidence,'' right fielder Nick Markakis said. ''Put them together and good things usually happen. We've got that right now. We know we have a good team and we're going to roll with it.''
Although Jimenez and Cruz didn't come aboard until after the start of spring training, Showalter never wavered in his belief that the Orioles would challenge the defending champion Boston Red Sox and retooled Yankees in the AL East.
''I felt that way whether or not we added Nelson and Jimenez,'' he said. ''That's a poor reflection on me and my staff if we thought we needed more to win.''
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| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (DETROIT-BALTIMORE) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Updated with details and quotes. With AP Photos.)
*Tigers-Orioles Preview* ========================
By DAVID GINSBURG AP Sports Writer
Detroit (90-72) at Baltimore (96-66), 5:37 p.m. EDT
BALTIMORE (AP) -- The Detroit Tigers' starting pitchers in the first three games of the AL Division Series have a combined 329 wins, three Cy Young Awards and 35 games of postseason experience.
Baltimore's starters carry less impressive credentials, yet they don't necessarily have to outpitch their Detroit counterparts for the Orioles to advance.
All they have to do is keep it close, then hand the baseball over to one of the best bullpens in major leagues.
Detroit (90-72) didn't win as many games as the Orioles (96-66), who ran away with the AL East title to earn home-field advantage in the best-of-five series that begins Thursday. But the AL Central-champion Tigers have been installed as a slight favorite - mainly because of their formidable starting rotation.
Max Scherzer (18-5, 3.15 ERA) starts on Thursday, followed by Justin Verlander (15-12, 4.54) and David Price (15-12, 3.26). That also happens to be a list of the last three AL Cy Young winners.
Advantage, Detroit?
"I think we all know what it looks like on paper," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Wednesday. "But there's a lot of things that look a certain way on paper for us that we were able to overcome."
Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman (13-6, 3.34 ERA) will make his first foray into the postseason in the opener. Although Showalter declined the announced his starters for Friday and Sunday, they will likely be Wei-Yin Chen (16-6, 3.54) and Miguel Gonzalez (10-9, 3.23), each of whom has pitched in exactly one playoff game.
If playoff experience and Cy Young Awards mean anything, then Detroit has a decent chance to reach the AL Championship Series for a fourth straight year.
"Pitching. That's what wins ballgames," Price said. "If we put up zeroes early, that kind of gives our offense a chance to kind of settle into the game. They know they don't have to put up a three- or four-spot because we're down."
But if a game is close in the seventh inning, the Orioles like their chances.
"We've got a good bullpen, we have a good starting staff," said closer Zach Britton, who finished with 37 saves. "Anytime there's a close game, we're confident we can pull it out, and we've done that a lot this year."
Britton (1.65 ERA) usually works the ninth inning. Andrew Miller (1.35 ERA in 23 games with Baltimore) or Darren O'Day (1.70) take care of the eighth, following hard-throwing Tommy Hunter.
Back in May, when Detroit last played the Orioles, Hunter (3-2, 2.97 ERA) was the closer and Miller was still pitching for Boston.
Much has changed.
"Britton has really established himself since we last saw Baltimore. He's one of the best closers in the game," Detroit manager Brad Ausmus said. "They acquired Andrew Miller, who obviously had a track record coming in. And now you've got a closer who can pitch the sixth or seventh inning. That's not a bad position to be in if you're the Orioles. Their bullpen has done a good job, and that's part of the reason they've been so successful."
Ausmus has been calling upon Joba Chamberlain to work the eighth and Joe Nathan to get the final three outs. The duo experienced mixed results during the regular season - Chamberlain was 2-5 with four blown saves and a 3.57 ERA, and Nathan finished 5-4 with seven blown saves and a lofty 4.81 ERA.
Advantage Baltimore?
"Britton, from what I've seen, his ball's moving all over the place," Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter said. "They've got a nice little bullpen over there. We've seen some dirty pitching (in the AL Central), so I don't think it will be new, but it will be tough. Those guys are good."
Scherzer, meanwhile, hasn't faced the Orioles since June 17, 2013. He knows this much: Baltimore led the majors with 211 home runs, so the right-hander had better be careful.
"A team that swings the bat like that, they're dangerous," he said. "They're dangerous one through nine. That's something I know going into the start. They need to have a good game plan against me and I need to have a good game plan against them."
In other news, Ausmus declined to name his 25-man roster in part because of the status of injured outfielder Rajai Davis, who has pelvic strain.
"Rajai came in today, felt much better, but we've got to get past the point of his making some baseball moves in terms of running, exploding out of the box and taking swings, which he hasn't done yet," said Ausmus, who has until 10 a.m. Thursday to make his final decision.
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| Last Updated: 3/29/2024 11:32:06 AM EST. |
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