A midafternoon games means that not every Boston Red Sox or Detroit Tiger fan will be at home to watch the game. If you do not have apps to keep you in touch with the score, check out MLB's GameDay, providing pitch-by-pitch coverage of Game 3 of the ALCS.
MLB GameDay brings all live updates, providing lineups, stats, pitch counts and other remarkably useful information the telecast sometimes does not provide.
The Tigers are coming into this game with the best lineup in the playoffs. Not surprising? They have the highest batting average, better than the Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals and these very same Red Sox. Entering Game 3, the Tigers are hitting .243 in the LCS, with two home runs and only 13 strikeouts, the fewest among the four teams competing for a World Series.
Here's their expected lineup for Game 3
Tigers Batting Lineup
1. Austin Jackson CF
2. Torii Hunter RF
3. Miguel Cabrera 3B
4. Prince Fielder 1B
5. Victor Martinez DH
6. Jhonny Peralta SS
7. Alex Avila C
8. Omar Infante 2B
9. Don Kelly LF
Alex Avila was bumped up tot he seventh spot as his bat awakened in the LCS. He is right behind Peralta, not only in the lineup, but in overall batting average in the postseason, hitting .429 with a home run and three RBI. Combined, Avila and Peralta have only one strike out (Avila), seven hits, four RBI in 15 at-bats. They have been the heart of the order in this series.
The Red Sox's hitting almost woke up too late in Game 2. They simply rose to the occasion and their remaining piece from the 2004 team that came back from an 0-3 deficit in the ALCS, found magic once again as David "Big Papi" Ortiz smacked a game-tying grand slam that became another moment in his arsenal of game-winners in the Red Sox's postseason.
Red Sox Batting Lineup
1. Jacoby Ellsbury CF
2. Shane Victorino RF
3. Dustin Pedroia 2B
4. David Ortiz DH
5. Mike Napoli 1B
6. Jonny Gomes LF
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia C
8. Stephen Drew SS
9. Will Middlebrooks 3B
The Red Sox are hitting .136, only two thousandths of a point better than the St. Louis Cardinals. That places them third among the four teams in the playoffs. Striking out 32 times does not help. This series is tied because of clutch hitting. Otherwise, the numbers simply tell that the Tigers have dominated this series.
The Red Sox lead all four teams with nine walks, proving they are seeing pitches and being patient. However, they are also taking a lot of hacks and not making contact, which should be their new focus.
Click here for the Red Sox vs. Tigers Game 3 score.