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BOSTON ( LACKEY )
DETROIT ( VERLANDER ) |
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| AL Championship Series - Be st of 7 - Game 3 - Tied 1-1 | |  | |
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| 913 | BOSTON | +135 | Ov 7.5,+100 | +130 | Ov 7,-120 | | 914 | DETROIT | -145 | Un 7.5,-120 | -140 | Un 7,+100 |
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| All Games | 101-67 | +20 | 78-83 | 5.3 | 0.276 | 0.344 | 4.0 | 0.247 | 0.312 | | Road Games | 45-38 | +6 | 41-39 | 5.3 | 0.268 | 0.338 | 4.1 | 0.253 | 0.321 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 66-45 | +12 | 55-52 | 5.4 | 0.275 | 0.346 | 4.2 | 0.249 | 0.313 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +0.6 | 5-2 | 5.4 | 0.255 | 0.346 | 3.6 | 0.241 | 0.307 | | Grass Games | 89-59 | +14.9 | 68-73 | 5.3 | 0.281 | 0.347 | 4.1 | 0.249 | 0.312 | | Day Games | 29-15 | +9.6 | 15-28 | 5.2 | 0.276 | 0.345 | 3.6 | 0.241 | 0.303 | | Playoff games | 4-2 | +1.6 | 4-2 | 5.3 | 0.240 | 0.339 | 3.0 | 0.231 | 0.288 |
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| All Games | 5.3 | 0.276 | 0.344 | 168 | 5843 | 1610 | 586 | 181 | 0.03 | 847 | 610 | 1373 | 131 | 1255 | 163 | 82 | 149 | 134 | | Road Games | 5.3 | 0.268 | 0.338 | 83 | 2976 | 797 | 266 | 95 | 0.03 | 417 | 316 | 696 | 71 | 644 | 81 | 34 | 76 | 57 | | Righty Starters | 5.4 | 0.275 | 0.346 | 111 | 3885 | 1070 | 390 | 118 | 0.03 | 567 | 419 | 931 | 99 | 853 | 111 | 56 | 96 | 86 |
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| All Games | 3.62 | 1.304 | 487 | 207 | 196 | 456 | 48 | 179 | 479 | 32-23 | 35 | 23 | 60.3% | | Road Games | 3.73 | 1.289 | 246 | 106 | 102 | 225 | 25 | 92 | 256 | 15-14 | 17 | 12 | 58.6% |
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| All Games | 97-72 | -11 | 84-78 | 4.8 | 0.281 | 0.342 | 3.8 | 0.245 | 0.304 | | Home Games | 52-31 | -3.9 | 47-31 | 5.3 | 0.299 | 0.363 | 4.1 | 0.252 | 0.309 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 69-49 | -0.4 | 57-57 | 4.9 | 0.287 | 0.344 | 3.7 | 0.241 | 0.300 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +0.7 | 3-4 | 3.3 | 0.237 | 0.292 | 3.0 | 0.196 | 0.270 | | Grass Games | 93-69 | -11.6 | 80-76 | 4.8 | 0.282 | 0.343 | 3.8 | 0.245 | 0.304 | | Day Games | 33-29 | -13.4 | 36-25 | 4.8 | 0.283 | 0.342 | 4.0 | 0.246 | 0.311 | | Playoff games | 4-3 | +0.7 | 3-4 | 3.3 | 0.237 | 0.292 | 3.0 | 0.196 | 0.270 |
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| All Games | 4.8 | 0.281 | 0.342 | 169 | 5967 | 1678 | 507 | 181 | 0.03 | 788 | 549 | 1124 | 35 | 1297 | 177 | 77 | 138 | 131 | | Home Games | 5.3 | 0.299 | 0.363 | 83 | 2824 | 843 | 247 | 90 | 0.03 | 422 | 284 | 484 | 14 | 624 | 91 | 37 | 61 | 67 | | Righty Starters | 4.9 | 0.287 | 0.344 | 118 | 4209 | 1207 | 355 | 121 | 0.03 | 557 | 369 | 806 | 31 | 913 | 130 | 48 | 97 | 87 |
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| All Games | 4.03 | 1.351 | 455.3 | 215 | 204 | 428 | 45 | 187 | 472 | 18-27 | 43 | 15 | 74.1% | | Home Games | 4.36 | 1.400 | 220.7 | 117 | 107 | 207 | 24 | 102 | 207 | 11-9 | 22 | 6 | 78.6% |
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| 10/4/2013 | LESTER(L) | TAMPA BAY | MOORE(L) | 12-2 | W | -140 | 7.5 ov | O | 14 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | | 10/5/2013 | LACKEY(R) | TAMPA BAY | PRICE(L) | 7-4 | W | -105 | 7.5 un | O | 11 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 1 | | 10/7/2013 | BUCHHOLZ(R) | @ TAMPA BAY | COBB(R) | 4-5 | L | 100 | 7 un | O | 7 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 1 | | 10/8/2013 | PEAVY(R) | @ TAMPA BAY | HELLICKSON(R) | 3-1 | W | -120 | 7.5 un | U | 6 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | | 10/12/2013 | LESTER(L) | DETROIT | SANCHEZ(R) | 0-1 | L | -135 | 7.5 ov | U | 1 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 0 | | 10/13/2013 | BUCHHOLZ(R) | DETROIT | SCHERZER(R) | 6-5 | W | -130 | 7 ov | O | 7 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 1 | | 10/15/2013 | LACKEY(R) | @ DETROIT | VERLANDER(R) | | | 10/16/2013 | PEAVY(R) | @ DETROIT | FISTER(R) | | | 10/17/2013 | LESTER(L) | @ DETROIT | SANCHEZ(R) | |
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| 10/4/2013 | SCHERZER(R) | @ OAKLAND | COLON(R) | 3-2 | W | -115 | 6.5 ov | U | 10 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 1 | | 10/5/2013 | VERLANDER(R) | @ OAKLAND | GRAY(R) | 0-1 | L | -110 | 7 un | U | 4 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 10 | 0 | | 10/7/2013 | SANCHEZ(R) | OAKLAND | PARKER(R) | 3-6 | L | -145 | 7 ov | O | 7 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 0 | | 10/8/2013 | FISTER(R) | OAKLAND | STRAILY(R) | 8-6 | W | -145 | 7.5 ov | O | 9 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 9 | 0 | | 10/10/2013 | VERLANDER(R) | @ OAKLAND | GRAY(R) | 3-0 | W | 100 | 6.5 un | U | 8 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | | 10/12/2013 | SANCHEZ(R) | @ BOSTON | LESTER(L) | 1-0 | W | 125 | 7.5 ov | U | 9 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 | | 10/13/2013 | SCHERZER(R) | @ BOSTON | BUCHHOLZ(R) | 5-6 | L | 120 | 7 ov | O | 8 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 1 | | 10/15/2013 | VERLANDER(R) | BOSTON | LACKEY(R) | | | 10/16/2013 | FISTER(R) | BOSTON | PEAVY(R) | | | 10/17/2013 | SANCHEZ(R) | BOSTON | LESTER(L) | |
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| |  | BOSTON: HITTING: OF JACOBY ELLSBURY's 2011 breakout was no fluke. He has real power to complement his elite speed. 2B DUSTIN PEDROIA bounced back from a slow start to finish with career highs in HR and RBI. He benefits from hitting behind Ellsbury. 3B KEVIN YOUKILIS is a huge injury risk. His best seasons are behind him. 1B ADRIAN GONZALEZ wasted no time winning over Boston fans last year, and should hit even more HR in 2012. DH DAVID ORTIZ has put together two straight impressive years after being left for dead in 2009. 2011 Super Bust OF CARL CRAWFORD will bounce back, just not as much as most experts think. Most of the catcher duties will go to C JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA, with C KELLY SHOPPACH getting ABs against lefties. Right field will be filled by former Giants playoff hero CODY ROSS. SS NICK PUNTO replaces Marco Scutaro, who is now in Colorado. 3B MIKE AVILES is a solid hitter with the defensive flexibility to end up with semi-regular ABs.
STARTING PITCHING: JON LESTER seems to have leveled off as a very good pitcher instead of ascending into an elite class. He lost some speed on his pitches and got hit a little harder in 2011. Coming off the best season of his up-and-down career, JOSH BECKETT's numbers are bound to regress a bit in 2012. Back problems limited CLAY BUCHHOLZ last season, and he lost some of the zip on his fastball. He'll tally a low ERA and 15+ wins if he can stay healthy. ALFREDO ACEVES was outstanding out of the bullpen last year, and will compete for a rotation spot this year. He was a starter for years in the Mexican League and the minors. Former setup man DANIEL BARD is being converted to a starter, but he may wind up back in the bullpen later on. After Tommy John surgeries, DAISUKE MATSUZAKA is due to return around July, while JOHN LACKEY won't be back until 2013.
RELIEF PITCHING: ANDREW BAILEY was a acquired from Oakland in December for a heap of prospects. He's one of the best closers in baseball, and may even be an upgrade from departed Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth. Time will tell how he'll handle the increased scrutiny of playing in Boston. Coming over in a trade for infielder Jed Lowrie, MARK MELANCON was excellent as a closer last season in Houston and should be Bailey's main set-up man in the eighth inning. BOBBY JENKS has ninth-inning experience, but he will be out at least two months coming off a pulmonary embolism. | | DETROIT: HITTING: OF AUSTIN JACKSON doesn't make much contact, but manager Jim Leyland likes his speed in the leadoff spot. RYAN RABURN and RAMON SANTIAGO will split second base duties, with Raburn getting the majority of the starts. 3B MIGUEL CABRERA seems to have cleaned up his act. He's an MVP candidate. So is newcomer 1B PRINCE FIELDER who will try to keep slugging in his move to a pitchers' park. His presence was needed after DH VICTOR MARTINEZ was lost for the season with a knee injury. OF DELMON YOUNG is a pending free agent, and he hit well after escaping spacious Target Field. He'll nab the starting LF job but could also DH. OF BRENNAN BOESCH did enough pre-injury to earn an everyday role, but he'll again be in danger of fading over the summer. SS JHONNY PERALTA had a resurgence in 2011, and he's on the right side of 30. C ALEX AVILA might not hit for average, but his power is legit. Leyland favorite BRANDON INGE and DON KELLY will back up the All-Star corner infielders, so neither expect to get much playing time. Streaky OF ANDY DIRKS is a fourth outfielder. C GERALD LAIRD will spell Avila.
STARTING PITCHING: You can't expect an identical stat line for JUSTIN VERLANDER; his opponent .236 batting average on balls in play suggests there was some luck involved in his MVP season. But he's still the best pitcher in the American League by a wide margin. DOUG FISTER's improved strikeout rate with the Tigers suggests he could sustain success as a quality No. 2 starter. MAX SCHERZER can still be outstanding when he's on, but he was inconsistent again last year. He could figure it out in his late-20s, but time is running out. RICK PORCELLO still has a ways to go. His mid-season success came against some weak lineups. He's still only 23, but he hasn't been able to beat hitters at any level in the pros. The Tigers are still searching for a No. 5 starter. Top prospect JACOB TURNER is only 20, but the Tigers haven't been shy about fast-tracking young arms. He was dominant in the minors, but torched in his first big-league stint. ANDY OLIVER appears to be the front-runner for this role, but DREW SMYLY is also a possibility.
RELIEF PITCHING: JOSE VALVERDE was perfect in 2011, but it was a surprising development considering his sliding K/BB ratio. For Tigers fans, he carries more risk than 49-for-49 would suggest. One of baseball's better set-up men, JOAQUIN BENOIT is an eighth-inning-only guy. He'd take over if Valverde got hurt. OCTAVIO DOTEL is another elite set-up man who will step up as the seventh-inning guy. As good as AL ALBURQUERQUE was in the regular season (one extra-base hit'a double'allowed in 43.1 innings!), he's out until at least the All-Star break after offseason elbow surgery. Lefty DANIEL SCHLERETH has a chance to be the closer of the future, but first he'll need to cut down on the walks. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (BOSTON-DETROIT) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Updates with details and quotes. With AP Photos.)
*Red Sox-Tigers Preview* ========================
By NOAH TRISTER AP Baseball Writer
Boston (97-65) at Detroit (93-69), 4:07 p.m. EDT
DETROIT (AP) -- The last time Justin Verlander took the mound, his team's season was on the line.
The stakes won't be quite that high for his next start, but the Detroit Tigers could certainly use another brilliant performance from their star right-hander after blowing a chance to take control of the AL championship series.
Detroit wasted a five-run lead Sunday night in Game 2, allowing the Boston Red Sox to even the series with a 6-5 victory. David Ortiz's tying grand slam in the eighth inning snapped the Red Sox out of a hitting funk, and if Boston goes on to win the pennant, there may be little doubt about the turning point in this series.
Verlander's job is to steady the defending AL champion Tigers.
"Obviously that was a tough one," Verlander said. "At the same time you know this series is going to be a dogfight. Nobody is going to walk over anybody."
The Tigers looked like they were ready to roll through the series after they won the opener and took a 5-0 lead in Game 2. Anibal Sanchez held Boston hitless for six innings on Saturday, and Max Scherzer allowed a run and two hits in seven innings Sunday.
Boston trailed 5-1 in the eighth in Game 2 before a remarkable rally against four relievers. Ortiz tied it with a two-out grand slam off closer Joaquin Benoit.
"I made a mistake that I take full responsibility for," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "I should have just reminded him that we didn't want Ortiz to really beat us. He tried to make a great pitch. He tried to get it low and away out of the strike zone, but he didn't get it there."
Boston managed to win one of two at home despite striking out 32 times - eight more than the previous record for the first two games of an LCS, set by the Los Angeles Dodgers a day earlier. The Red Sox are hopeful their bats will come around, starting against Verlander in Game 3 at Comerica Park on Tuesday.
"I think we certainly gained some confidence in the last couple innings," Boston manager John Farrell said. "The work of Sanchez and Scherzer has been nothing short of spectacular. ... We feel like tomorrow's starter in Verlander is going to be a similar, if not a more difficult, challenge than what we faced already."
After a pedestrian regular season by his standards, Verlander pitched15 scoreless innings in the division series against Oakland, including eight in a winner-take-all Game 5. The Tigers have taken no-hitters into at least the sixth inning in three straight games, a remarkable feat even for a staff that set a major league record with 1,428 strikeouts during the regular season.
Detroit's starters have picked up where they left off during last year's American League playoffs, when the Tigers' rotation posted a 1.02 ERA through the division series and ALCS. Detroit won the AL pennant before being swept by San Francisco in the World Series.
"We've got a starting rotation that's relentless, and I said that before the series started. Every guy has their unique ability to shut down a team in their own way," Verlander said. "I'm just one of the four guys right now."
The Red Sox will send John Lackey to the mound to face Verlander. Lackey was able to make 29 starts during the regular season, posting a 3.52 ERA after missing all of 2012 following elbow ligament-replacement surgery.
Lackey will try to hold Detroit's offense in check and hope the Red Sox can become the first team this postseason to break through against Verlander.
"We've got a great lineup. I'm going into the game with a great group of guys behind me," Lackey said. "Those guys are going to fight him. He's kind of our lineup's problem. I've got my own problems with their lineup."
Leyland says he'll probably play Jhonny Peralta at shortstop for a second straight game, with Andy Dirks in left field instead of Don Kelly. Boston's Mike Napoli is expected to be back at first base in a lineup similar to what the Red Sox used in Game 1.
Those are minor adjustments, obviously. Don't expect too many drastic changes as this series progresses. Both teams rely on established stars who have played in their share of big postseason games.
"It's always nice to have Justin Verlander on the mound no matter what the situation is," Leyland said. "There won't be any carry-over for our guys from that game last night. That's over with."
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| | Last Updated: 5/19/2024 5:18:08 AM EST. |
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