Texas Rangers vs Detroit Tigers
When ? Saturday, Oct 08, 2011 – 08:05 pm
Where ? Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
Pitchers: vs Verlander vs Wilson
When the Rangers went back to Detroit in August, they were without All-Star third baseman and lost two of three again. The Tigers won the season series 6-3. Sabathia, who didn’t make it through the sixth inning Monday, made the first relief appearance in his professional career in Game 5 of the ALDS, while Verlander remained a spectator and cheering teammate. Texas won three consecutive games against the Rays to wrap up that series Tuesday. The Rangers then had a day off before working out at home Thursday while waiting to see who and where they would play the ALCS opener. The Rangers, in their second consecutive ALCS after having never won a postseason series before last year, counter with . Texas has home-field advantage after winning a franchise-record 96 games, including six in a row and 12 of 14 to end the regular season. That was just enough to finish one game ahead of the Tigers, who won 20 of 25 down the stretch. “I was definitely a little bit more sore than normal. More so my body and everything than my arm. My arm was pretty normal,” Verlander said, adding he “felt great” following a bullpen session before Thursday’s game. The Tigers now look to Verlander for an early boost in the ALCS, where Texas has home-field advantage for finishing one game better during the regular season after both teams played well down the stretch. Verlander struck out 11 in eight innings in the Game 3 victory, when some of the last of his 120 pitches were still hitting 100 mph on the stadium radar gun. Plus, Detroit celebrated in the visiting clubhouse at Yankee Stadium by spraying alcohol-free sparkling wine — was arrested in February on a DUI charge. Verlander will pitch against defending American League champion Texas on regular rest Saturday night. It’ll be the fifth day after his Game 3 start in the AL division series that was a restart of sorts since rain halted the series opener of aces after only 1 1/2 innings. We will post information about results of this match, as soon as posible.