MLB Playoffs 2011: 4 Reasons Tigers Can Come Back in Texas

The Detroit Tigers travel to Arlington with a renewed sense of confidence after their Game 5 win.

The Tigers may not have thoroughly outplayed the Texas Rangers during their three-game homestand, but they did enough to stay alive.

As Texas regains home-field advantage, Detroit is suddenly right back in this series.

Justin Verlander did his job in Game 5, and the pitching duties now rest on the shoulders of Max Scherzer and Doug Fister.

Texas has a better lineup top to bottom, but the Tigers have at least four reasons to believe they can win this series.

4. Momentum

Momentum is a factor that is all too frequently undervalued.

The Tigers are coming off of an adrenaline-fueled victory in Game 5.

They successfully defended Comerica Park by winning two out of three games played there.

If they can manage to win Game 6, then Texas will have a large burden to overcome in a series-deciding Game 7.

3. The Remaining Starters

Max Scherzer and Doug Fister are pitching better than Derek Holland and Colby Lewis, respectively.

Holland went only two innings in his last start and Lewis just five.

Fister in particular pitched great in Game 3 of this series for the Tigers. He went seven innings, allowing only two runs.

Long starts like this are great for Detroit because they do not have the same bullpen depth of Texas.

If Scherzer and potentially Fister can get through seven innings and give Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde a chance to close the game, then the Tigers' odds increase tremendously.

2. The Health of Adrian Beltre

Adrian Beltre did not record a hit during the three games in Detroit. He fouled a ball off his knee in Tuesday's game and has not been the same since.

The Texas lineup is strong enough to overcome his troubles, but the Tigers are certainly at an advantage if the All-Star-caliber third basemen continues to struggle.

1. The Tigers' Bench

Different Tigers have stepped up at the most opportune times in this postseason.

Don Kelly was the hero against New York and now Delmon Young and Ryan Raburn have each taken their turn against the Rangers.

Texas has been reliant almost solely upon Nelson Cruz.

Cruz has all of the Rangers' home runs in this series. If he has an off-game, then Texas will suffer, because none of their other bats have really taken off against Detroit.