This will be a rematch from last years ALDS. Their roles will be reversed from the 2010 ALDS. The Texas Rangers will be hosting the Tampa Bay Rays this year in games one and two, where last year the Rays hosted the Rangers. The Rangers took the first two games in Tampa Bay, then the Rays tied the series winning games three and four. Texas took the series three games to two, by winning game five 5-1.
This will be a similar ALDS match-up this year between the two teams, but not the same make-up for either team in 2011. The Rangers no longer have Cliff Lee, who won two games in the ALDS match-up a year ago. Tampa Bay no longer has Carl Crawford, Matt Garza, Carlos Pena, and Rafael Soriano.
The Texas Rangers are a much more balanced team in 2011, despite not having Cliff Lee who won two games in last years ALDS. When you look at the Rangers starting pitching they are good, as well as deep. In the month of September both Holland and Harrison have pitched well down the stretch. With the addition of Koji Uehara, Mike Adams, and Mike Gonzales, that has strengthened the Rangers bullpen.
The Tampa Bay Rays, have been a very hot team in the month of September. Will the Rays cinderella season continue? The Rangers will be using three left handed pitchers in the series. That bolds well for the Rays, they are terrific hitting lefties. The Rays will face Wilson and Holland in the first two games of the series, both are lefties. In game four of the series Colby Lewis is scheduled to pitch for the Rangers, who is the other lefty.
As we saw down the stretch of the 2011 season, you can't count out the Rays at anytime. If you remember last year the cinderella team was the Texas Rangers. This is an even match-up like last year, but the Rangers are a more balanced team in 2011.
Prediction:
Texas wins the series 3-2
Detroit Tigers vs New York Yankees:
The Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees are two evenly matched teams. The Yankees are known for their powerful offense and pitching. The Tigers have the best pitcher in baseball, Justin Verlander. Out of all the match-ups in the ALDS, this could have the same drama as the end of the 2011 season.
With the additions of Doug Fister, Wilson Betimit, and Delmon Young this has made the Tigers a more balanced team. The Tigers have become a better team on the fly. The Tigers lineup is more balanced by adding Betimit and Young, with batting champion Miguel Cabrera. The Tigers bullpen is very strong with the perfect Jose Valverde.
The Yankees ace CC Sabathia is their top pitcher, after that they are succeptible. The Yankees bullpen is very good as usual. The back-end of the Yankees pitching rotation with Garcia is up in the air. Alex Rodriguez is not the same player he has been in recent years, with multiple injuries. Rodriguez will be batting fourth in their lineup and that could be a problem later on in the series.
We can look back over the years the Tigers and Yankees have met in the playoffs numerous times. This series could bring back old, old memories. Will theTigers and Yankees bring back some of that old drama?
Prediction:
Tigers wins the series 3-2
