Detroit Tigers vs. New York Yankees: A First Round Preview

Everyone keeps saying that the Tigers ran into bad luck by facing the New York Yankees in the first round. While Texas won home-field advantage, I think the Tigers ended up with the better first round matchup.

As many of you recall, the Tigers faced the Yankees in the first round in 2006. The Tigers won that series, and I would say that this year's team is much better. 

Here is a breakdown of each aspect of the series.

1. Starting Pitching Advantage: Tigers

Right now Justin Verlander is the best pitcher on the planet. I don't care how good Sabathia has been, he simply does not match up with Verlander.

In Game 2, Doug Fister matches up with Ivan Nova. Nova has far more wins this year, but Fister has a much better ERA. Fister has been lights out in September. There is nothing more dangerous than facing a pitcher with good stuff that is brimming with confidence.

Past Nova, the Yankees are a mess. Who is going to throw in Game 3? Colon? Sweaty Freddy? Burnett? Regardless of the choice, I love Max Scherzer in that matchup.

Put this all together and the starting pitching matchup is strongly in favor of the Tigers.

2. Bullpen Advantage: Tigers

Let's be honest, Rivera is not the same pitcher that we have all come to expect. This season he blew five saves, and his velocity is down. He is still good, but the greatest closer of all time is just about done. The rest of the bullpen has been decent.

Wade and Robertson have thrown well, along with Soriano after injury. The bullpen isn't deep, but there are some strong strikeout candidates.

The Tigers' bullpen is full of depth. Jose Valverde has been the best closer in baseball this year. Benoit and Coke have been inconsistent, but are both in the zone right now. The key to the bullpen with be Al Albuquerque. Before his series of injuries, he was the best strikeout pitcher in baseball. That is a weapon that Leyland will be able to use each and every game.

3. Offensive Advantage: Yankees

Both of these lineups are stacked. There are big names in both lineups, and both have unsung heroes that complete the lineup. With that being said, the Yankees' lineup is better top to bottom than the Tigers'.

The biggest void in the Tigers' lineup is at the top. Austin Jackson is a below average big league leadoff man. The Yankees have Derek Jeter. Curtis Granderson is a much better two-hole hitter than Ordonez. The middle three for both lineups cancel each other out.

Peralta and Avila are better than Martin and the Yankees' DH, but Gardner is a bottom of the order monster. If Raburn or Inge step up, this could be close, but for now, the Yanks have a better order, by the slimmest of margins. 

4. Defensive Advantage: Push

Neither the Yankees nor the Tigers are known for their defensive prowess. Both finished in the middle of the pack in the American League in terms of fielding percentage.

Defensively, the outfield is well-covered for both teams. Austin Jackson and Curtis Granderson are two of the best defensive center fielders in the game. Gardner and Swisher are both competent defenders while Ordonez and Young are decent as well. 

Teixeira and Cano are about as nifty as it gets with the leather, while Peralta and Inge are both very steady on the left side of the infield for the Tigers. All in all, they cancel each other out and these two teams are very similar defensively, both being primarily built to be offensive-minded clubs.

5. Managerial Advantage: Yankees

This is a no-brainer. Jim Leyland constantly manages contrary to conventional logic. Joe Girardi has made reliable starters out of Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon. 

While Leyland seems to relate well to his players, his unbelievably deep loyalty to the veterans has the ability to be a deal-killer for the Tigers. Leyland is predictable in games as well. He literally never puts runners in motion, and frequently leaves his pitchers in too long. He also continually used Valverde in non-save situations, even though he has proven incapable of being successful in such situations.

Basically, because Girardi is not Leyland he has the advantage, in my opinion.

Series Advantage: Tigers in 4

Its all about pitching in October. It has been proven time and time again, the team that pitches the best will win the series. There is no doubt in my mind that the team that will pitch better is Detroit.

The amount of guesswork behind Sabathia is really the difference in the series. I don't think that the lineup advantage for the Yankees is great enough to overcome their deficit in pitching. I would be surprised if the Yankees didn't steal one game at some point, but I don't see this series making it back to New York for Game 5.