The Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees will close out their American League Division Series Thursday night in Game 5 at Yankee Stadium.
Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees
Detroit was unable to close things out Tuesday night in dropping a 10-1 contest to New York at Comerica Park, as both teams head back to the Bronx to finish things out. “We got a big game with the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. It’s a great scenario. It’s great for baseball,” commented Tigers manager Jim Leyland. “I wish I could tell you what’s going to happen, but I don’t know.” Since the start of the Division Series in 1995, visiting teams are actually 8-6 in Game 5, including three of the last four on the AL side over the last nine years. Detroit is 42-27 this year following a loss and 47-37 on the road.
Tigers starting pitcher Doug Fister will look to bounce back after picking up a loss in Game 1 of this series, allowing six runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings, as the situation was unique. The first game of this ALDS was suspended due to rain and Justin Verlander was the actual starter. The right-hander posted an incredible 8-1 record and 1.79 ERA in 11 appearances (10 starts) with the Tigers since being acquired from the Seattle Mariners. In three career regular season starts versus the Yankees, Fister tallied a 1-2 record and 6.00 ERA.
New York accomplished its goal of bringing the series back to Yankee Stadium and the clubhouse knows what type of advantage that will be tonight. “The Stadium is going to be rocking, there’s no question about it,” stated Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. “The one thing we wanted to do is get back to our home cooking, and it’s going to be exciting.” The team pushed its record to 8-6 in ALDS games when facing elimination, but it’s still interesting to note that the Bronx Bombers have a 1-4 series record when falling behind two-games-to-one. New York is 53-30 at home this season and 9-12 after an off day.
Yankees starting pitcher Ivan Nova picked up the 9-3 win in Game 1 of the series in relief of CC Sabathia, tossing 6 1/3 frames and allowing two runs and four hits. The right-hander finished the regular season with an outstanding 16-4 record and 3.70 ERA. He registered an 8-2 home mark and 4.11 ERA in 14 starts, surrendering 10 home runs in 85 1/3 innings. Nova had faced the Tigers just once in this MLB career before the first game of this postseason series, tossing two shutout innings of relief.
Bettors will likely back the Tigers due to their 20-6 record when facing winning teams, while the Yankees are 2-5 in Game 5 of a series.
Get the latest MLB playoff odds at Bookmaker
