MLB Playoffs
Detroit is 9-13 in last 22 road games; they had to wait and see who won last night before flying to NYC. Tigers were 4-6 vs Bronx this season, with seven of 10 games played in Motor City-- Detroit hasn't been in Big Apple since late April, when they lost two of three. Fister is 1-1, 2.57 in last four starts, he allowed two runs in 6.1 IP in his only start vs Bronx this season. Pettitte is 2-2, 2.28 in four starts since coming off DL; he didn't pitch against the Tigers. Sabathia saved the Bronx bullpen with his complete game win last night.
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ALCS Gm.1 Betting Preview: Tigers at Yankees
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Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees (-135,8.5- overnight odds- not official )
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.
WEATHER: Forecasts are calling for cool temperatures in the mid-40s this evening in New York. Winds will blow out to left field at 8 mph.
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.
TRENDS:
* Yankees are 5-1 in Pettitte’s last six starts vs. Tigers.
* Under is 4-1 in Pettitte’s last five starts vs. Tigers.
* Tigers are 4-0 in their last four Saturday games.
* Under is 6-1-2 in Tigers last nine overall.
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.
DETROIT (91 - 76) at NY YANKEES (98 - 69) - 8:05 PM
DOUG FISTER (R) vs. ANDY PETTITTE (L)
Top Trends for this game.
DETROIT is 91-76 (-10.8 Units) against the money line in all games this season.
DETROIT is 23-27 (-14.1 Units) against the money line when the total is 8 to 8.5 this season.
DETROIT is 121-186 (-51.5 Units) against the money line as a road underdog of +100 to +125 since 1997.
DETROIT is 39-45 (-14.5 Units) against the money line in road games this season.
DETROIT is 4-14 (-10.8 Units) against the money line in road games when playing with a day off over the last 2 seasons.
DETROIT is 87-73 (-11.3 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
DETROIT is 53-50 (-11.2 Units) against the money line in night games this season.
DETROIT is 8-16 (-11.5 Units) against the money line in road games against left-handed starters this season.
DETROIT is 47-44 (-12.8 Units) against the money line after a win this season.
FISTER is 12-32 (-18.4 Units) against the money line in road games since 1997. (Team's Record)
FISTER is 10-26 (-15.4 Units) against the money line in road games in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons. (Team's Record)
NY YANKEES are 92-57 (+11.7 Units) against the money line in games played on a grass field this season.
NY YANKEES are 119-103 (-19.7 Units) against the money line in night games over the last 2 seasons.
NY YANKEES are 70-76 (-23.5 Units) against the money line when playing against a team with a winning record in the second half of the season over the last 3 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
NY YANKEES is 6-4 (+2.3 Units) against DETROIT this season
6 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL this season . (Over=+1.8 Units)
DOUG FISTER vs. NY YANKEES since 1997
FISTER is 2-2 when starting against NY YANKEES with an ERA of 4.60 and a WHIP of 1.466.
His team's record is 2-3 (+0.1 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 3-2. (+0.8 units)
ANDY PETTITTE vs. DETROIT since 1997
PETTITTE is 9-6 when starting against DETROIT with an ERA of 3.35 and a WHIP of 1.335.
His team's record is 11-7 (-0.7 units) in these starts. The UNDER is 13-5. (+7.1 units)
Detroit at NY Yankees
Fister: 3-13 TSR away with a line of +125 to -125
Pettitte: 8-0 TSR vs. AL Central opponents