In what should be a battle of Aces tonight in Justin Verlander and C.C. Sabathia will not happen due to a rain out and suspended Game 1 that pushed these starters to a Game 3 duel that went Verlander's way (8 IP, 11Ks, and the Win). Instead we will have the midseason trade acquisition from Seattle Doug Fister facing off against the rookie Ivan Nova. Nova outpitched Fister in Game 1's continuation from a 1-1 score on Friday night. What can we expect from tonight?
I have to say after the series headed to Detroit 1-1 and All-Star Closer Jose Valverde guaranteed the series would be won by his Tigers 3-1 in Detroit. As a teammate of Valverde, don't you hate guarantees? All the pressure to win two games in a row against Derek Jeter and the NY Yankees...not happening. Led by AJ Burnett, yes Burnett of all people pitched a stellar Game 4 (in Burnett's eyes he pitched a no-hitter) to propel his Yankees to a 10-1 game 4 win and a trip back to the Bronx for a pivotal Game 5 tonight.
Tonight's Game 5 will see every available player have hs spikes on and be ready, except Verlander. 120 pitches in a Game 3 win will make the 24-5 AL CY Young winner (not official yet) unavailable to pitch, which could be huge in a game in where your season is on the line.
The lineup edge goes to the Yankees, Nova is better right now then Fister, Soriano-Robertson-Rivera in the NYY bullpen is simply better the Coke, Alburquerque, Benoit, Schlereth, Valverde as you saw in Game 4. The game is in NYY and it's up to Fister? Last time I checked it's not Verlander, the Tigers have to jump on Nova early to have a chance to get NYY Manager Joe Girardi to use his bullpen early and often.
Prediction- NYY wins series 3-2, Game 5 score: 7-4, but I'd like to see the Tigers win.
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