Tigers vs. Rangers: What Did We Learn from ALCS Game 2?

Through the first two games of the ALCS between the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers, Texas is proving it is a serious contender for the World Series championship, and the Tigers are showing they will battle until the final out is recorded.

However, there are even more details that emerge every game, and after Game 2 several new observations have come to the forefront.

Here are the things we have learned about the 2011 ALCS after Game 2. 

When Nelson Cruz Is Hitting Well, Look out

Nelson Cruz suffered a hamstring injury in late August that kept him off the field and out of the batters box until mid-September. He returned to the lineup without the luxury of a rehab assignment and it was clear he was not up to speed at the plate, hitting just .190 in the month of September.

As the playoffs began, Cruz was in an enormous slump and things did not improve during the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays, where he hit just 1-for-15.

However, in Game 1 of the ALCS, Cruz launched a mammoth shot off Tigers' ace Justin Verlander that gave the Rangers the lead and ultimately the victory.

Many felt this could be a turning point for Cruz and Game 2 fit that theory as he went 3-for-4 with two homers and five RBIs, including the game-winning walk-off grand slam.

This Texas lineup is dangerous enough even when Cruz was in a slump, but if he continues this Sherman's March from the dish, it will be quite difficult for Detroit—or anyone else, for that matter—to hang with Texas.

When Max Scherzer Is Pitching Well, Look out

When you look at Max Scherzer's stats from the regular season, they are not too impressive. He did win 15 games but had a 4.43 ERA in the process, which says that he got a lot of help offensively in many of those outings.

However, when he's dialed in, as he has been for the better part of the playoffs, he looks like a copy of Justin Verlander, and after a rocky first inning in Game 2, Scherzer was lights out until Nelson Cruz hit the first of his two homers.

Did Jim Leyland leave him in too long? Maybe, but that shouldn't take away from the excellent effort the Tigers got out of him.

Make no mistake, Scherzer is a dangerous pitcher and Detroit could use him out of the bullpen later in the series if it needs a guy who can throw heat and be accurate with it.

Scott Feldman Could Be Given a Start Soon

With Derek Holland faltering early, Scott Feldman was summoned to eat a few innings to preserve the bullpen. He did just that and looked like a No. 1 starter in the process, throwing four-plus shutout innings in relief. He dominated Orlando Cabrera and Victor Martinez, two hitters who have gotten the best of Feldman over the last few years. 

Feldman looked as sharp as he did two seasons ago when he won 17 games for Texas before injuries wiped out his 2010 season.

Maybe the fact that no one had seen a lot of Feldman over the last two years gave him an edge, or perhaps he's ready to be in the spotlight again.

Now, speaking of Holland... 

Derek Holland Could Be Moved to the Bullpen Soon

Plainly put, Derek Holland had an awful start in Game 2.

He walked four in less than three innings (a Texas franchise first), had a Detroit run taken off the board only to give it three on the next at-bat and looked overwhelmed and immature, which is all too shocking as he turned 25 yesterday. In the end, Holland was very lucky he didn't leave this game with more than a one-run deficit.

In the ALCS, he had a solid five-inning start and also came out of the bullpen in Game 4. In the relief appearance, Holland looked good and helped preserve the series-clinching win in Tampa Bay.

At this point in the playoffs, these kinds of starts can't happen, and seeing how well Scott Feldman was able to handle the pressure and shut down the Tiger lineup, it would not be all too surprising to see Holland sent to the bullpen.

However, this wouldn't be a negative thing for Holland or for the Rangers as a whole. It would only bolster a bullpen that is—well, read the next slide. 

The Ranger Bullpen Is the Best in the Playoffs

Since game one of the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Texas bullpen has been the best in the playoffs.

Outside of a bad outing from Koji Uehara, the Ranger bullpen has given up a combined three earned runs (six including Uehara) so far.

If the starter can make it six innings, the bullpen takes care of the rest. There is no exact rotation of relievers, but some combination that includes Alexi Ogando, Mike Adams, Neftali Feliz and another reliever is constantly able to get the job done.

It's no secret that the bats haven't been as alive as many would expect from a Texas Ranger team to this point, but with the pen throwing like this, it doesn't need to score a bunch of runs to win.

Detroit Can't Hit Alexi Ogando

Alexi Ogando was on pace to win almost 20 games by the All-Star break but began to slide during the second half.

With the postseason quickly approaching, it was just about a given that Ogando would be coming out of the bullpen rather than starting, and has it ever paid off.

He is yet to give up a run and has given up only two hits over six-plus innings while striking out seven with his nearly 100 mph fastballs.

The Detroit Tigers look lost at the plate when they face Ogando, but that shouldn't be a surprise as he's been credited with four of the five wins the Rangers have over the Tigers this season.

Should Texas go on to take the ALCS, I would not hesitate to give him series MVP honors. 

Jose Valverde Is a Great Pitcher Only in Save Situations

The Tigers brought in star closer Jose Valverde in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the 3-3 tie.

He did but was extremely lucky to do so as he loaded up the bases with no outs with David Murphy coming to the plate for Texas. Murphy popped out and the next batter, Mitch Moreland, grounded into a nifty double play to end the inning. 

Valverde then came out for the 10th and got the job done, retiring the Rangers in order.

Even though he didn't lose the game, he was not all too sharp. Perhaps we won't see Valverde next time in that situation. Maybe someone like Phil Coke?

Texas Has Got All the Momentum Going into Game 3

As Nelson Cruz stared down his towering grand slam to end Game 2, every player, fan and even peanut vendor knew that Texas had just stolen the collective thunder.

The Rangers have played well on the road so far in the postseason (small sample size, I know) and have rattled off five straight wins.

They now face the task of going into Detroit and taking at least one game, if not the series at a park where they do not fare too well.

However, momentum does a lot—just ask the Rays and Cardinals at the end of the regular season. And seeing as how Texas has all of momentum, it has a good shot at ending this ALCS in the Motor City and heading to its second consecutive World Series appearance.