Tigers vs. Rangers: 9 Must-Know Stats, Prediction for the 2011 ALCS

The Tigers and Rangers will meet in the 2011 American League Championship Series, beginning Saturday at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Looking at the stats from the nine games these two clubs played against each other during the regular season, some surprising numbers stand out.

Here are nine key sets of stats to know going into the ALCS...

1. Head-to-Head Record in 2011

In nine head-to-head matchups this season, the Tigers won six games.

Four of the wins came at Comerica Park in Detroit, and two at Rangers Ballpark.

2. Tigers' Batting Against the Rangers

2011 Offensive Stats vs. Rangers (nine games):

Team Batting Average: .317

Team OPS: .854

Home Runs: 10

Runs Scored: 45

Runs/Game: Five

2011 Offensive Stats at Rangers Ballpark (three games):

Team Batting Average: .373

Team OPS: .990

Home Runs: Five

Runs Scored: 24

Runs/Game: Eight

3. Rangers' Batting Against the Tigers

2011 Offensive Stats vs. Tigers (nine games):

Team Batting Average: .275

Team OPS: .723

Home Runs: Six

Runs Scored: 37

Runs/Game: 4.1

2011 Offensive Stats at Comerica Park (six games):

Team Batting Average: .269

Team OPS: .692

Home Runs: Three

Runs Scored: 22

Runs/Game: 3.7

4. Tigers' Pitching Against Rangers

2011 Pitching Stats vs. Rangers (nine games):

Team ERA: 3.71

Team WHIP: 1.33

Strikeouts: 34

Walks: 20

2011 Pitching Stats at Rangers Ballpark (three games):

Team ERA: 4.50

Team WHIP: 1.54

Strikeouts: 14

Walks: 10

5. Rangers' Pitching Against Tigers

2011 Pitching Stats vs. Tigers (nine games):

Team ERA: 4.96

Team WHIP: 1.65

Strikeouts: 64

Walks: 28

2011 Pitching Stats at Comerica Park (six games):

Team ERA: 3.53

Team WHIP: 1.47

Strikeouts: 39

Walks: 21

6. Tigers' ALDS Performance

Batting:

Team Batting Average: .228

Home Runs: Six

Runs Scored: 17

Runs/Game: 3.4

Strikeouts: 47

Walks: 17

Pitching:

Team ERA: 5.73

Team WHIP: 1.50

Strikeouts: 50

Walks: 21

7. Rangers' ALDS Performance

Batting:

Team Batting Average: .211

Home Runs: Six

Runs Scored: 16

Runs/Game: Four

Strikeouts: 24

Walks: 12

Pitching:

Team ERA: 4.25

Team WHIP 1.31

Strikeouts: 35

Walks: 14

8. Key Tigers to Watch

Miguel Cabrera: .421 BA, 1.016 OPS vs. Rangers during regular season.

Brennan Boesch: .351 BA, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 3 SB, 1.063 OPS vs. Rangers during regular season.

9. Key Rangers to Watch

Adrian Beltre: .381 BA, HR, 3 RBI, 1.077 OPS vs. Tigers during regulars season; coming off a three-homer performance in Game 4 of ALDS against Tampa Bay.

Prediction: Tigers in 7

While the Texas Rangers are favored to reach the World Series for the second consecutive year, the Detroit Tigers are on a special run—and if there's anything we've learned from the last two postseasons, it's that the favorite should really be the underdog.

Given their statistical dominance over the Rangers in many categories during the regular season, along with their underdog mentality, the Tigers will pull off an upset in seven games, reaching the World Series for the first time since 2006.