Live from Comerica Park, the Detroit Tigers host the Boston Red Sox in Game 3 of the ALCS. Check out the MLB Playoff TV schedule as both teams battle for the series lead. The winner will be half way to the World Series, taking a 2-1 lead in the 2013 ALCS.
Game Time: 4 p.m. ET
Channel: FOX
Pitching Matchup: John Lackey vs. Justin Verlander
Guess who has the advantage in this game? Home field with 40,000 plus roaring behind them and a man who has pitched 15 scoreless innings while recording 21 strikeouts. Yes, the Tigers have the advantage. Verlander has yet to surrender a run of any kind, taking matter into his own hands, allowing only six hits to the 53 batters he has faced. He has handed out two walks, totaling eight base runners in his first two playoff starts this season.
Verlander is pitching his best baseball at the right time. After having a horrendous regular season where he went 13-12, Verlander has trully taken the title of the ace, outshining Max Scherzer. That speaks volume as Scherzer is expected to grab this year's Cy Young Award. However, Verlander is proving to be the team's MVP and Cy Young in the 2013 playoffs.
Little has been made of Lackey's career. He seems many years removed from his rookie season, when he helped the Los Angeles Angles capture a World Series. Lackey is a champion with 13 career playoff starts in his career. Granted, he is 4-4 with a 3.35 ERA in 15 playoff appearances, Lackey should take the mound with confidence, though a lot of pressure will be on the 34-year-old righty. If the Red Sox lose today, chances are they might not get a chance to get back into the series knowing that Scherzer and Verlander will be at the back end of the series, probably reappearing in Games 6 and 7.
The Red Sox caught a break in Game 2, but they should not depend on breaks the remainder of the season. Instead, the Sox have to use this victory to build momentum.
It was a David Ortiz grand slam that tied the game 5-5, allowing Jarrod Saltalamacchia to win in the bottom of the ninth with an RBI single. The Tigers' bullpen spoiled a marvelous outing from Scherzer. The day before, Tiger pitching had shut down the Red Sox, but they were unable to do so on back-to-back occasions. Look for Tigers' manager, Jim Leyland, to leave Verlander on the mound for as long as he can go.
This is truly a must win for the Red Sox. Tune into FOX to watch Game 3 at 4 p.m. ET from Comerica Park.
