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Tigers, Orioles begin ALDS on Thursday
By: Freddy Wander - StatFox
Published: 10/2/2014  at  3:39:00 AM
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DETROIT TIGERS (90-72)

at BALTIMORE ORIOLES (96-66)

American League Division Series - Game 1
First pitch: Thursday, 5:37 p.m. ET
Line: Detroit -125, Baltimore +115, Total: 7

The Tigers and Orioles open their 2014 postseason on Thursday at Camden Yards with Game 1 of the ALDS.

Detroit made the playoffs after beating out Kansas City while going 4-2 in its final six games of the year. The offense was phenomenal during the season, ranking first in the majors in batting average (.277), second in runs (757) and second in on-base percentage (.331). The offense was led by 1B Miguel Cabrera (.313 BA) and DH Victor Martinez (.335 BA) who combined to drive in 212 runs while smacking 57 homers. This duo has not been alone though, and 2B Ian Kinsler (.275 BA) is red-hot coming into the postseason, going 12-for-41 (.293) with three homers, 10 RBI and seven runs in his final 10 games. Baltimore had no problem winning the AL East, finishing the regular season 12 games ahead of the second-place Yankees. Just like Detroit, this club won with a stellar offense that pounded out the most home runs in the league (211) while putting up the eighth-most runs (705). OF Nelson Cruz (.271 BA) was the big run producer on the team with 40 homers and 108 RBI while OF Adam Jones (.281 BA) put up another huge season, tallying 29 homers, 96 RBI and 88 runs. Jones also brings a four-game hitting streak into the postseason in which he is 5-for-17 with two taters and 5 RBI. This contest will feature Tigers ace RHP Max Scherzer (18-5, 3.19 ERA) facing RHP Chris Tillman (13-6, 3.34 ERA) of the host Orioles. Detroit has done very well on the road with a 45-36 record (.556, T-6th in majors) while Baltimore has an exceptional 50-31 mark (.617, 5th in MLB) at Camden Yards. The Tigers hold a slight 10-8 edge in this matchup over the past three seasons and are 5-1 in the series in 2014. The last time these two clubs met, Detroit swept the O's in Baltimore over three games; outscoring them 15-7. The injury report has no significant injuries to any Tigers on it, while Baltimore continues to miss the services of 3B Manny Machado (knee) who is out for the season.

Max Scherzer has been striking out more than 10 batters per nine innings in each of the past three years and has a 55-15 record (.786) in that time. In 2014 he allowed a career-low 0.74 HR/9 in 220.1 frames while maintaining a solid walk rate (2.6 BB/9). He has pitched at least six innings in nine of his past 10 starts in leading his team to an 8-2 record over that time. The right-hander has been strong his postseason career, going 4-2 with a 3.42 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and a remarkable 12.0 K/9 rate (74 K's in 55.1 IP). Scherzer has started six games against the Orioles in his career, going 3-1 with a 3.92 ERA and 1.36 WHIP while giving up five homers in just 39 innings of work. OFs Nelson Cruz (8-for-21, 1 HR, 4 RBI), Adam Jones (9-for-18, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 2 RBI) and Nick Markakis (5-for-16, 2 doubles) have all done well in their time against the righty, while SS J.J. Hardy (4-for-23, 1 HR, 2 RBI) has been poor in the matchup. Detroit’s bullpen has been the club's biggest weakness over the past few years and it is 22-17 (.564) with a 4.29 ERA and 1.48 WHIP while going 41-for-57 (72%) in save opportunities. Joe Nathan (4.81 ERA, 35 saves) did not do great in the closer role this year, as he walked 4.5 batters per nine innings and blew seven saves.

Chris Tillman has been the No. 1 option in the Orioles rotation as he has pitched his second consecutive season with 200 or more innings while having a mediocre strikeout rate (6.5 K/9). He has always had some luck on his side with batters going a career .273 BABIP against him while leaving 76.7% of batters on base in 2014. But Tillman is hot coming into his first career postseason appearance, as he has allowed three or fewer runs in 10 of his past 11 starts, going 6-1 with a 2.14 ERA and leading his team to a 10-1 record in that time. When facing Detroit in his career (6 starts), he is 3-0 with a 3.58 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, and has walked 17 batters in his 37.2 frames. Both DH Victor Martinez (4-for-10, 2 RBI) and 1B Miguel Cabrera (5-for-13, 1 double, 1 HR, 4 RBI) have enjoyed facing Tillman, while C Alex Avila and OF J.D. Martinez have combined to go 1-for-9 with two strikeouts against him. The bullpen for Baltimore has gone 28-21 (.571) with a stellar 3.10 ERA and 1.16 WHIP, and has successfully saved 53-of-72 (74%) contests. Closer Zach Britton (1.65 ERA, 37 saves) has forced batters to hit an amazing 75.3% of balls on the ground with his nasty sinker while benefiting from hitters batting a mere .215 BABIP against him.


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