After Thursday night’s 3-2 victory over the New York Yankees, the Tigers return to the ALCS for the first time since 2006. This time around they prepare for the defending American League Champion Texas Rangers who beat the Tampa Bay Rays in 4 games during their ALDS matchup.
Here is the latest on the Tigers on the eve of game 1 of the ALCS.
- Earlier Friday Tigers manager Jim Leyland released his pitching rotation for the ALCS. This rotation was Verlander, Porcello, Fister, Scherzer, Verlander, Porcello, Fister. However a few hours later it was announced that Max Scherzer would start game two while Porcello would move back to give four. The new rotation now would shape up like this, Verlander, Scherzer, Fister Porcello. It’s assumed now that Porcello will only pitch once in the series with Texas.
- Delmon Young is a big question mark for Saturday night’s ALCS game 1 after suffering an oblique strain. The team considers it minor however Young said he couldn’t throw today. We’ll find out more tomorrow on whether or not Young will be able to go.
- It seems as though superstitions and baseball go hand in hand. We certainly remember Jim Leyland’s superstition towards the end of the season where he decided not to change his underwear until his team lost. What are some of the other superstitions the Tigers have though?
- In what may be good news for the Tigers, Rangers manager Alexi Ogando will work out of the bullpen in the ALCS. Ogando went 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA against the Tigers this season. The Tigers however won the season series 6-3.
- With the news of Ogando, Ron Washington released this rotation for the Rangers in the ALCS, C.J. Wilson in Game 1, Derek Holland in Game 2, Colby Lewis in Game 3 and Matt Harrison in Game 4.
Ref: Detroit News, Mlive.com, Los Angeles Times (image)