Why the Detroit Tigers Are in Position for an ALCS Sweep of the New York Yankees

Five days ago, the Detroit Tigers were on the brink of elimination, going into a decisive Game 5, on the road against the pesky Oakland Athletics.

Today, the Tigers find themselves up two games to none on the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series and are returning home to host the Yankees in Game 3, Game 4 and, if necessary, Game 5.

The Tigers' starting pitching has been outstanding in the first two ALCS games, and Detroit has gotten timely hits, and had several things go their way, leading to two enormous wins at vaunted Yankee Stadium.

The Tigers have all the momentum in the ALCS, and as they return home for the next two games, they have set themselves up to sweep the AL East Champions and easily move on to represent the AL in the World Series.

Here are the five reasons why the Tigers are in position to earn a sweep of the Yankees:

Starting Pitching

Detroit's starters have been almost unhittable so far in the ALCS, and with Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer looming for starts in Game 3 and Game 4, respectively, the Yankees are in trouble.

The Tigers' starting rotation are 3-1 with a 0.94 ERA in seven postseason games so far.

They have combined for 53 strikeouts in 48 innings, and opponents are averaging just .179 against the rotation so far in the playoffs.

Behind the masterful starting pitching, the Tigers return home up 2-0 in the series, and have Verlander and Scherzer starting in the next two games.

Uh-oh.

Scherzer didn't allow an earned run in his only postseason start against the A's in the ALDS, and Verlander is 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 16 postseason innings.

Not too shabby.

Home-Field Advantage

The Tigers have been extremely tough to beat at Comerica Park this season.

Detroit went 50-31 at home in the regular season, which was tied for the second-best home record in the AL this year, and the Tigers are 2-0 at home so far in the 2012 postseason.

Momentum means a lot in postseason baseball, and with the momentum that the Tigers are bringing home, and with what's at stake in the next two games, Tigers fans are going to fill Comerica Park and will make their presence felt.

The Yankees went 4-3 at Comerica Park in the regular season, but haven't played in Detroit under so much pressure, or while struggling so badly.

It's tough to figure out what's wrong with your game when you can't hear yourself speak, and Tigers fans will make sure the Yankees won't feel welcome in Detroit.

The Captain Is Done

The heart and soul of the Yankees will have to watch the rest of this series from the dugout.

In Saturday's Game 1 loss, while fielding a routine grounder, Yankees shortstop and captain, Derek Jeter, broke his ankle and will miss the rest of the season.

Jeter hit .316 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs in the regular season and was .333 with two RBIs in the playoffs.

He has a .308 average with 20 home runs and 61 RBIs in his postseason career.

But beyond Jeter's numbers that will be missing in the Yankees lineup, Jeter's heart and leadership will be missed much more.

Jeter has donned the Yankee pinstripes his entire 18-year career and has carried his team in 158 career postseason appearances.

He's the go-to guy in the dugout for young players in need of inspiration and advice, and he is the calming personality in the Yankees clubhouse.

The Yankees will have to find a new source of inspiration and leadership on the field now that Jeter won't be on it anymore this season.

Bullpen Resurgence

After spending most of the season as the Tigers' Achilles' heel, Detroit's bullpen has pitched lights out in the ALCS, with the exception of Jose Valverde.

Besides Valverde's frivolous attempt to close Game 1, the Tigers' reserves have been difficult for the Yankees to figure out.

Valverde has allowed seven earned runs in 2 1/3 innings this postseason, but five of the other six Tigers relievers haven't allowed an earned run yet in the playoffs.

Phil Coke pitched two scoreless innings in the Tigers' Game 2 win on Sunday, and in five postseason appearances, Coke has four strikeouts, two walks, one save and two holds in 4 2/3 innings, while holding opponents to just a .167 average in the ALDS and a .100 average so far against the Yankees in the ALCS.

Octavio Dotel and Drew Smyly have done their jobs in key situations in the ALCS so far, and the Tigers' best reliever, Al Alburquerque, hasn't even been pressed into duty yet against the Yankees.

Joaquin Benoit has been the only reliever, other than Valverde, who has struggled in the postseason, owning a 4.91 ERA in four playoff appearances.

Benoit definitely needs to get it going, but for as bad as the bullpen has been most of this season, the Tigers have to be ecstatic about the performance most of the relievers have turned in during the playoffs.

Fielder and Cabrera Getting into the Act

After a dreadful ALDS against the A's, Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder have begun to pick it up so far in the ALCS.

The Tigers' 3-4 hitters combined to go 9-for-41 (.219) against the A's last series, but in the first two games of the series against the Yankees, Detroit's portly partners in crime have combined to bat 5-for-17 (.294) with three walks, two runs scored and two RBIs.

Cabrera and Fielder have been dominant at home for the Tigers this season, as well.

At Comerica Park in the regular season, Cabrera hit .332, with a .403 on-base percentage, 28 home runs and 75 RBIs in 81 games, while Fielder hit a whopping .337 with 18 home runs and 57 RBIs at home.

The Tigers managed to defeat the A's in the ALDS, despite Cabrera and Fielder's essential non-existence in the series, and now that they are both starting to contribute, the Yankees' backs are even more against the wall.