MLB Playoffs 2011: Tigers Need Max Scherzer to Shine to Stay Alive vs. Rangers

The Detroit Tigers staved off elimination with a solid performance from Justin Verlander to win Game 5 of the ALCS. Now, they will need yet another Herculean effort from Max Scherzer to keep their World Series hopes alive against the Texas Rangers.

Scherzer has been an unlikely hero for the Tigers this postseason, giving up just four earned runs in 13.1 innings across three appearances. Scherzer went six innings without surrendering a run in Game 2 of the ALDS against the New York Yankees to earn the first October victory of his career and even the series at one win apiece. He lent a helping hand out of the bullpen in Game 5 with another 1.1 innings of work in yet another high-pressure situation at Yankee Stadium.

The third-year right-hander out of Missouri put forth another quality effort in Game 2 against the Rangers, allowing three runs on six hits in six innings, though Texas went on to win on a walk-off Grand Slam by Nelson Cruz in the 11th inning.

The Tigers will once again hand the ball to Scherzer on the road, this time with the series on the line in Game 6. The Ballpark at Arlington may not be the historic pressure cooker that Yankee Stadium is, but its confines are far from friendly for opposing pitchers. The Rangers' home field was the most homer-happy of any in baseball this season, which doesn't bode well for a fly-ball pitcher like Scherzer, who surrendered 29 dingers in the regular season.

If Scherzer's to have success against Texas' powerful lineup, he'll need to keep the ball down and, more importantly, away from the blazing bat of Nelson Cruz. The outstanding outfielder has hit all five of the Rangers' home runs in the series—two of which have been game-winners. As dangerous as the rest of Ron Washington's order is, the Tigers need to be careful about how they pitch to Cruz if they're to live to play another day.

That all starts with Scherzer. The Tigers aren't about to get any deeper, though the few semi-healthy hitters Jim Leyland has left to choose from performed well against CJ Wilson on Thursday night and did their job in Game 2 against Derek Holland, Texas' starter for Game 6.

Ultimately, though, Detroit's survival will come down to its ability to hold down the Rangers' hot bats at home to some extent. If Scherzer can go five or six innings and limit Texas to two or three runs in that span, the Tigers should be able to hang tough offensively and hand the game off to a well-rested bullpen (thanks, Justin Verlander!) to force a deciding Game 7.

Anything else, and the Rangers will have their tickets punched for a second trip to the Fall Classic in as many years.