The 2014 MLB Playoffs are officially underway. The wild card play-in games are over and the matches are set. Now as October kicks off, the playoffs get into full swing and the Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles will get things going with the first game of the American League Division Series. Both teams will put their aces on the mound in hopes of getting an early win in order to start momentum in their favor.
The Tigers have a roster of Cy Young winners making the decision on who to start pretty easy. The first three starters in this series for Detroit have a combined 329 wins, three Cy Young Awards and 35 postseason games under their belts. Most teams do not have one Cy Young winner, much less three. Max Scherzer will start the first game against the Orioles. Justin Verlander will follow and then David Price will take the mound. They are the past three Cy Young winner for the American League.
Despite the impressive pitching rotation, the Tigers did not win as many games as Baltimore this season hence why Baltimore gets the home-field advantage. Detroit is hoping that pitching can be their advantage in this serious. Scherzer is 18-5 on the year with a 3.15 ERA. However, he has not faced the Orioles since June of 2013 so he is a bit rusty on the team's batting order, only knowing that they hit a lot of home runs. 211 to be exact which led the majors this season.
Baltimore's pitching does not have to credentials of Detroit's, but they just as efficient, if not more. Chris Tillman will start the opener after going 13-6 in the regular season with a 3.34 ERA. It is likely that Wei-Yin Chen and Miguel Gonzalez will follow. The Orioles also have the benefit of a strong bullpen to help late in the game. Andrew Miller, Tommy Hunter and Zach Britton will take care of the back-half of the game. All three pitchers could be closers.
Detroit's bullpen has been less consistent. Joba Chamberlain and Joe Nathan get the most calls to close out games. Chamberlain has four blown saves to his name while Nathan has seven and a 4.81 ERA. If the starting pitching fails to get deep into the game, Baltimore could capitalize.
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