Detroit Tigers vs New York Yankees: Detroit Needs a Boost from Miguel Cabrera

The numbers tell you that Miguel Cabrera is having a decent series in the ALDS against the New York Yankees, as he’s hitting .250 with a home run and three RBI in four games. He has also posted an on-base percentage of .438, which is much better than decent.

However, these numbers are misleading. Cabrera has gone without a hit in three of the four games, with virtually all of his production coming in Detroit's 5-3 win in Game 2.

Oddly enough, that is the only game the Tigers have won at Yankee Stadium in this series. If they don't win another in the Bronx on Thursday, the Tigers will see their season come to an end.

For the Tigers to win Game 5, much of the responsibility will lie with Doug Fister, who will be looking to rebound after a tough relief appearance (and pseudo-start) at Yankee Stadium in Game 1. Picking up where Justin Verlander left off before the rains came, Fister allowed six runs on seven hits and two walks in four and two-thirds. Needless to say, a similar performance in Game 5 is not going to cut it.

The Tigers bats also need to do Fister a favor by getting him some runs early on. This is something they didn't do for Fister in Game 1 and it's possible that he felt a little added pressure as a result.

Getting early runs will be easier said than done, of course. Ivan Nova is going to be on the mound for the Yankees and he was very good in Game 1, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks in six and a third. The last thing the Tigers want is to let Nova get into a groove like the one he had going in Game 1.

That's where Cabrera comes in. He's the best hitter the Tigers have, yet the Yankees have done a fine job of keeping him in check—outside of his Game 2 outburst. You have to give some of the Tigers’ other hitters (most notably Delmon Young) credit for stepping up, but Cabrera is the guy who makes Detroit's lineup work. When he gets his hits, good things tend to happen.

Shoot, all it would really take is one big hit. Carbera delivered a couple in Game 2 and I recall him producing a number of clutch hits back in his rookie season with the Florida Marlins in 2003.

If Cabrera can produce just one more, the Tigers could be on their way back to the American League Championship Series.