The Oakland Athletics are in position to advance to the American League Championship Series for the second time in seven tries and all the team needs is a win on Tuesday in the ALDS against the Detroit Tigers after taking a 2-1 lead, but the AL Central winners will not back away easy and could force a Game 5 matchup at O.co Coliseum on Thursday that will be aired on TBS.
The last time the team made it through to the American League Championship Series was back in 2006 and then the team got swept out of the playoffs. Last season the team tied up the series against the Tigers after losing the first two games and then lost Game 5, now they will try to avoid letting the Tigers force the decisive game that would be set for Thursday if it is necessary. The Athletics have been to the playoffs in two straight seasons and after getting beat four straight times in the early 2000s in the ALDS 3-2, the team feels it's ready to advance.
While I think the Athletics will win the series overall in Game 5, the Tigers should feel good about their chances at home in Game 4, as they have Doug Fister on the mound against Dan Straily and while the A's starter won 10 games this year, Fister is a very good pitcher and he should give the Tigers a good chance to win. The team also likes its matchup of Game 1 pitchers in Game 5 with Max Scherzer pitching against Bartolo Colon and that could be another good matchup.
The Athletics used three home runs in Game 3 to take the 2-1 lead and the game was tied when Brandon Moss hit his home run and then it was followed by Seth Smith, who knocked starter Anibal Sanchez out of the game. Things got heated later on with Grant Balfour and Victor Martinez that saw the benches clear and it showed that both teams are riding high with emotions as this series moves along.
The Tigers were one of the most consistent teams in the MLB this year and their depth in the rotation will help them over the top. If they win, Game 5 will be on Thursday in Oakland at 9:07 p.m. on TBS.
Prediction: Tigers win to force Game 5.