Tigers vs. Yankees: Why Game 1 Winner Will Walk Away with Series

The Detroit Tigers have one clear advantage in the 2011 ALDS against the New York Yankees.

They have starting pitching that they can actually rely on.

We all know about Justin Verlander, the potential MVP flame-thrower that registered 24 wins.  Game 1 against CC Sabathia has the star power of a World Series game. 

This is going to be the best game of the week. The winner is going to have a huge leg up over the loser.

Think about this: If the Tigers win, they knock out the home field advantage and dispatch of the Yanks' only reliable starter.

After beating Sabathia, do you think they’ll be intimidated against the likes of Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia? 

Not a chance.

Nova has no playoff experience and Garcia is a 35-year-old that hits the mid-80s on the radar gun. It’s essential for the Yankees to grab Game 1 or they will face long odds to come back.

The Tigers need to steal Game 1 so they don’t face the dreaded must-win Game 2 on the road.

Doug Fister will be on the mound, a guy that has a less than stellar 11-13 record on the season. Yet that doesn’t tell the whole story, as he sported a 2.83 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and the Tigers won his last eight starts. 

The problem is, like Nova, Fister has no postseason experience. Who knows how he’ll handle the hostile crowd at Yankee Stadium. It’s a complete guessing game. So wouldn’t you rather have the one-game cushion without putting even more pressure on Fister?

An even bigger question mark is Max Scherzer. He can potentially give you eight innings of one run ball or three innings of eight run ball.

Obviously both teams are more than capable of coming back from a 0-1 hole, but mentally, the edge is going to be gigantic.

Sabathia vs. Verlander is going to make everyone in the baseball world pay attention because of the pitchers' electric arms. I’ll be watching to see who gives themselves the humongous edge for the rest of the series that ultimately propels them to the next round.

No pressure guys.