Detroit @ New York preview
Yankee Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 9, 2012 ) NY Yankees 4, Detroit 3
The New York Yankees have no time to rest from their hard-fought triumph over the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Division Series as they host the Detroit Tigers in Game One of the AL Championship Series on Saturday. CC Sabathia tossed a four-hitter and Curtis Granderson went 2-for-3 with a homer as New York posted a 3-1 victory in the decisive fifth game of the ALDS on Friday. Granderson entered the contest just 1-for-16 with nine strikeouts in the series.
Less than 24 hours after wrapping up the series, the Yankees will take on a Tigers team that nearly squandered a 2-0 series lead against the Oakland Athletics. Reigning AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander struck out 11 in a four-hit shutout in Game 5 at Oakland on Thursday, sending Detroit to the ALCS for the second consecutive year. It advanced to the second round last season by defeating New York in the ALDS.
The Yankees went 6-4 against the Tigers during the regular season, taking two of three at Yankee Stadium and four of seven at Comerica Park.
TV: 8:07 p.m. ET, TBS
PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Doug Fister (0-0, 2.57 ERA) vs. Yankees LH Andy Pettitte (0-1, 3.86)
Fister pitched seven innings against Oakland in Game 2 of the ALDS, allowing two runs and six hits with two walks and eight strikeouts en route to a no-decision. The 28-year-old faced New York once during the regular season and did not factor in the decision despite yielding only two runs over 6 1/3 frames. Fister, who is 1-2 with a 5.18 ERA in four career regular-season starts against the Yankees, gave up one run over five innings to pick up the win versus New York in Game 5 of the 2011 ALDS.
Pettitte took the loss in Game 2 of the ALDS against Baltimore, surrendering three runs and seven hits in seven innings. The 40-year-old, whose 19 victories are the most in postseason history, did not face the Tigers this year but is 10-9 with a 3.66 ERA in 23 career starts against the AL Central champions. He has not faced Detroit since 2008. Pettitte is 2-1 in three playoff starts at the new Yankee Stadium.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pettitte was the only starting pitcher from either the Yankees or Orioles to allow three or more runs in a game during their Division Series.
2. The Tigers have won each of their two playoff meetings with the Yankees, taking the 2006 ALDS in four games and last year's first-round series in five contests.
3. Barring a rainout, New York will become the first team in playoff history to host games on five consecutive days.