The Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox meeting in Game 4 of the ALCS. Listen to the game online for free as the Tigers will attempt to tie the series 2-2. Check out ESPN Radio's free sream, but first, here's what these pitchers bring to the table.
It will be Jake Peavy versus Doug Fister. When looking at the matchup, Peavy has to name and the Cy Young Award, but Fister has performed better in the playoffs after becoming a Tiger.
Fister has a career 3.19 ERA in seven postseason starts since 2011. After getting roughed up by the New York Yankees in his first every playoff start, Fister has not allowed more than three earned runs in a start. He has gone 37 innings, allowing just nine earned runs for a 2.15 ERA. The Tigers have gone 5-1 in those outings with Fister starting.
The problem with FIster, he has so much movement in his pitches that he gets out of control at times. However, if the Red Sox are aggressive, this might work in his favor as Anibal Sanchez is a good example of how wild Boston's approach has been in the first few games. Sanchez walked six and was removed after the sixth inning, despite having a no-hitter. Fister could miss the strikezone, but if he's anywhere near close, he might get swings.
Peavy would love to forget his first two playoff starts, where he totaled an ERA over 12.00. However, he only allowed one earned run in his first playoff start with Boston and the Red Sox will need a similar performance from Peavy in Game 4 as they will look to take the dominant 3-1 lead.
Though the Tigers were in the same division as the Chicago White Sox, the team Peavy pitched for at the beginning of the season, he only faced them once and he beat them. It was not a spectacular start as he allowed four earned runs over seven innings pitched on three home runs, but the White Sox provided enough run support to award Peavy with a win in his final start as a White Sox.
Fister faced the Red Sox twice in 2013 and he was punished in his first start, allowing six earned runs. However, in his second start, he pitched seven masterful innings of three-hit baseball. He walked four, allowed four hits and struck out four Red Sox in the start.
Which Peavy will show up? Will Fister need to find the strikezone?
