The Detroit Tigers are in their cage as they welcome the Oakland Athletics for Game 3 of the ALDS. Listen to the radio stream free online of Game 3 as either one of these guys will take a 2-1 series lead and stand just one win away from the ALDS.
Let's break down the pitching matchup for this game as the Tigers and A's hook up for their third battle of the series. Pitching has meant everything in this series because there have only been a total of six runs scored through the first two games of the series. Hanley Ramirez, who is killing Atlanta Braves pitching on the southern coast of the state, has driven in five RBI by himself. This shows how dominant both the A's and Tigers' pitching has been through the first 18 innings of this series.
Anibal Sanchez will be in charge of taking the mound first. He has the stuff and the numbers to be an ace in any other pitching staff, but when we're talking about a 2013 Max Scherzer and of course, Justin Verlander, there is no way Sanchez would be No. 1 in Detroit. However, he is probably the best No. 3 starter you will find in any rotation.
Sanchez had a party in 2013. he got paid over the offseason after the Tigers game him a five-year, $80 million contract. He earned it after posting ridiculous 2012 playoff numbers. Sanchez finally proved why he was such a highly touted arm when rising through the ranks of the then Florida Marlins farm system.
In 2013, Sanchez 14-8 with a 2.57 ERA in 29 starts this season. He closed out the year in fashion, surrendering six earned runs in his last 23.2 innings pitched for a 2.32 ERA, though he only went 1-1 in those starts. Sanchez has had a lot of bad luck in 2013 when it comes to winning, the Tigers have not provided enough run support for the veteran right-hander.
Facing off against Sanchez will be 24-year-old Jarrod Parker. He's scuffled a bit allowing seven earned runs in two of his last three starts. However, Parker proved dominant at certain points this season, going through a stretch in August where he was pitching into the ninth inning of games. There's no doubt the kid has the stuff to shut down offenses, it's just that he has yet to do it consistently.
Parker went 12-8 in 2013 with a 3.97 ERA. He will have to to allow less than four runs in this game if he wants to give his team a chance to win as Sanchez should be lights out.
