Detroit @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 30, 2011 ) Detroit 3, NY Yankees 9

THE STORY: Yes, it’s only one game, but the visiting Detroit Tigers can't be feeling too good about their chances entering Game 2 of the AL Division Series on Sunday against the New York Yankees. Because of a rain-forced suspension that caused Game 1 to be played over two nights, the Tigers are staring at a 1-0 deficit in the best-of-five series and have already seen their top two pitchers take the mound. Detroit attempts to gain a split as Max Scherzer faces New York’s Freddy Garcia.

TV: 3:07 p.m. ET, TNT

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Max Scherzer (15-9, 4.43 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Freddy Garcia (12-8, 3.62 ERA).

Scherzer won his first six decisions this year and blanked the Yankees on four hits over eight innings on May 4 to improve to 3-0 against New York. A .500 pitcher since, Scherzer has not gone past 5 2/3 innings in five of his last seven starts. He won at Yankee Stadium on April 3 despite surrendering four of his 29 homers this season. Jorge Posada hit a pair.

Garcia rebounded from three straight rocky outings to blank Boston over six innings in his final start. He’s had great success in his career against Detroit, posting an 18-8 record in 32 starts. He lost to Scherzer in May, allowing four runs on 10 hits. Miguel Cabrera is 9-for-23 with three homers and Delmon Young is 3-for-10 with two homers against Garcia.

ABOUT THE TIGERS: Pitching issues aside, Detroit managed only two singles in six innings Saturday before pushing across a pair of meaningless runs. The Tigers ran themselves out of two scoring threats and seem to be pressing too hard for one run. Young, Ryan Raburn and Johnny Peralta each had two hits for the Tigers, who are trying to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since Aug. 28-29.

ABOUT THE YANKEES: Robinson Cano made the move to elevate him to No. 3 in the batting order look brilliant. He clubbed a grand slam – his fourth in 7 1/2 weeks – and a pair of RBI doubles to become the fourth Yankee to collect six RBIs in a playoff game. New York scored eight of its nine runs with two outs, including Brett Gardner’s two-run single in the six-run sixth.

FINAL PITCH: In 2006, New York battered the visiting Tigers 8-4 in Game 1 of the ALDS at Yankee Stadium. Detroit responded by winning the next three games and outscoring New York 18-8.