World Series 2012: Key Players Necessary for a Detroit Tigers Turnaround

The Detroit Tigers have gotten themselves in a 2-0 and they’ll need more than a few balls to bounce their way.

Detroit need their bats to come alive in order for them to contend in the Series. Their pitching showed up one out of two nights, but their bats have yet to crack.

Their two-hit performance last night made history, according to ESPN Stats &Info:

"

Tigers 2 hits are fewest in postseason for the team since getting 1 hit vs Cubs in 3-0 loss in Game 3 of 1945 World Series

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 26, 2012"

The Giants have beaten the Tigers with power one night and small ball the next. Here are the players that can change the Tigers' fortunes in Games 3 and 4.

Prince Fielder

The Tigers’ star signing from the offseason has not been as effective as they would have hoped.

Heading into the next two games, Fielder will face off against two superb right-handed arms in Ryan Vogelsong and Matt Cain, which marks the perfect time for him to make an impact. His OPS (on base and slugging percentages combined) against righties this season stands at over .1000 as well as 24 of his 30 home runs.

Hopefully Fielder's lasting World Series memory won’t be his being tagged out at the plate. He has two games to change that and turn the tide in the Fall Classic.

Anibal Sanchez

The Tigers’ path to contention starts with Sanchez, who will need to be masterful in his first-ever World Series start. When I say masterful, I’m talking about shutting out the Giants, which hasn’t happened since Game 2 of the NLDS.

That’s because Vogelsong takes the mound for San Francisco. The Giants starter has delivered some ace-like performances as of late, Including two-one run outings against Chris Carpenter in the NLCS.

As we saw in Game 2, the Giants’ pitching and defense has been as sharp as ever; they won’t be giving up any runs easily.

Avisail Garcia

Garcia has yet to record a hit in the Fall Classic, with two strikeouts to boot. A .319 hitter in 27 games this season, Garcia has been so uninspiring these past two games that Jim Leyland subbed a pinch-hitter for him in the eighth inning.

Being taken out when the team desperately needs a run? Talk about an all time low.

Garcia may not have many chances left in the Fall Classic, so when he gets called upon he’ll need to take advantage. He continues to be Leyland’s choice to bat against lefty pitchers. With Vogelsong and Cain next up for the Giants, he will likely be pitch-hitter late in games.