MLB Playoffs 2011: Yankees Need Game 3 Far More Than Tigers

The Yankees and Tigers enter Game 3 knotted at one game apiece, but this game is far more important for the visiting Yankees than it is for the Tigers. Both teams will have their aces on the mound and it should be a fantastic matchup.

Why It's More Important for Yankees

The Yankees are at a disadvantage with their starting rotation. Battling uphill without the upper-hand in pitching is a daunting task. Especially when a team is down 2-1 heading to the visitor's ballpark.

No one is saying the Yankees certainly can't win—they already roughed up probable Game 4 starter Doug Fister once—but to win back-to-back games when the other team has the better starter on the hill is well south of optimal. 

You don't want to face two must win games with the hope that you can overcome a deficit in stating pitching talent.

The Yankees will have to do something that has been nearly impossible this season. They will have to beat Justin Verlander.

Solving Verlander

Justin Verlander led the major leagues with 24 wins and 250 strikeouts and he led the AL with a 2.40 ERA. 

His numbers were even better when he was at home. He went 10-3 with a 2.37 ERA in 16 home starts in 2011.

Despite these eye-popping numbers, the Yankees have done well when facing Verlander. They have beaten the Tigers the last three times Verlander has started against them. Two of those were this season.

It's key for the Yankees to make Verlander work early by being patient at the plate. The Yankees are better at this than any team in baseball, and their seasoned hitting makes it next to impossible for a starter to go late into the game.

Series Schedule

Series	Date	Time (EST)	Station
AL Division Series
Game 1: Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees	Friday, Sept. 30	9-3 Yankees	TBS
Game 2: Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees	Saturday, Oct. 1	5-3 Tigers	TBS
Game 3: New York Yankees at Detroit Tigers	Monday, Oct. 3	8:37 p.m.	TBS
Game 4: New York Yankees at Detroit Tigers*	Tuesday, Oct. 4	8:37 p.m.	TBS
Game 5: Detroit Tigers at New York Yankees*	Thursday, Oct. 6	5:07 p.m.	TBS

Game 3 Prediction

Yankees 4, Tigers 3