Detroit Tigers at NY Yankees
ALDS Game 1

The Yankees and the Tigers meet in the postseason for the first time in five years. In baseball terms that may as well be yesterday as only four teams from each league make it each year.  This game by far is the most fantastic matchup of pitching we may see all season. Cy Young and Triple Crown Ace Justin Verlander takes on C.C. Sabathia at NY.  Verlander is 24-5 with a 2.40 ERA. This guy is the real deal and has had a career season.  Sabathia was 19-8 with a 3.00 ERA which is a stellar mark and with the proper run support could be boasting a record as good as Verlanders'. The Yanks have bats but for some reason not as much when C.C. pitched.

Heads up Verlander is 0-0 in two games vs. the Yankees and gave up 6 runs in 12 innings.  Sabathia's only decision against the Tigers he was 0-1.  The Sportsbooks currently have the Yankees as favorites -130.  That puts Detroit somewhere at +120-ish.  Some people think this is a gambling gift. A friend said to me today "How is it the best pitcher this whole season is an underdog?"  It's in the numbers.  0-2 with 4.5 ERA against the Yankees is Verlander. The game is at NYY which home field advantage is huge in the playoffs.

The firepower of the NYY is superior to that of the Tigers. Curtis Granderson hit 41 homers, second-most in the league, and had 119 RBIs, most in the league. Granderson gives the Yankees the big power threat in the No. 2 spot the Tigers haven't had since Brennan Boesch was lost for the season with thumb surgery.

The public is all over the Yankees betting them up to 86% of the time at some sportsbooks.  The average Joe sees NYY at home with Sabathia and the fact they are barely favored and can't help but to jump on it.  The total is 7 runs and the only reason it is not 6 runs is because the relative success these teams have had against one anothers Ace pitcher.