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This is a make or break your season type series. Must win 2. Of course we draw Weaver and Santana

That's cool information..... Thanks dude....!!

I was hoping to catch the Rangers by the All Star break! Seven games ahead of schedule!

Phillies, because they're good.

That's great! Great crowds on hand. Parking would be jammed packed! Freeways jammed!

There are a handful of scenarios that could shake out by the end of the day Wednesday in the AL playoff races remaining. The New York Yankees could clinch a playoff spot and win the AL East today. The Tampa Bay Rays could fall be anywhere from 3.5 games to just a half game behind the Boston Red Sox in the wild-card race. And the L.A. Angels could get within 2.5 games of the wild-card lead and within four of the AL West lead of Texas

Let’s start with Rays-Yankees, who play a day-night doubleheader in New York. The Rays blew a chance to move within a game of Boston on Tuesday night as Tampa Bay fell to the Yanks 5-0. While it’s never easy to win in the Bronx, the Rays have their aces going with James Shields (15-11, 2.78) in the opener and Jeremy Hellickson (13-10, 2.91) in the nightcap. Tampa Bay has to like its chances in Game 1 vs. Phil Hughes (5-5, 6.00) but the Yanks have ace CC Sabathia (19-8, 3.01) in Game 2 – there will be live betting on Bodog’s MLB baseball odds for the second game. New York's magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 1 and to win the AL East is 3.

In Boston, the Red Sox’s swoon continues. Jonathan Papelbon blew a save opportunity as the Red Sox fell to Baltimore 7-5. Boston is now 4-13 since holding a 9-game wild-card lead over Tampa Bay on Sept. 3. The Sox haven’t won consecutive games since Aug. 27. Papelbon had only blown one save this season and had gone 21 straight scoreless innings. Boston is a big -300 favorite tonight behind Josh Beckett (13-6, 2.50). He faces the Orioles’ Tommy Hunter (4-4, 4.81). A Boston loss and Tampa Bay sweep would get the Rays to within a half game and a chance for Tampa Bay to tie for the wild-card lead on Thursday with the Sox off. The Rays would be 3.5 games back if swept and Boston wins.

Finally, don’t forget about the Angels. They beat Toronto 10-6 on Tuesday to move within 3.5 games of Boston and stay within five of Texas in the division. L.A. is a -175 favorite tonight behind Dan Haren (15-9, 3.24). He faces Toronto’s Dustin McGowan (0-0, 7.50).

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So it’s an interesting dilemma for the New York Yankees when they begin a three-game series against arch-rival Boston on Friday night in the Bronx.

The Yanks have nothing to play for in the season’s final six games. The crumbling Red Sox, meanwhile, have just a 2-game lead over Tampa Bay and 3 over the L.A. Angels in the wild-card race. So does New York play all its regulars and go full-tilt to try and potentially keep its rivals from the postseason? Or do the Yanks get some guys a little rest and ready themselves for the start of the postseason next weekend?

We should find out starting tonight with Boston a -145 favorite on Bodog’s MLB baseball odds behind lefty Jon Lester. The Red Sox enter off losing three of four at home to the last-place Orioles (Boston finishes the season with a three-game series in Baltimore starting Monday). Lester needs to come up big because Boston starters have given up five or more runs eight times in 21 games this month. By contrast, Red Sox starters gave up five or more runs just eight times in the months of July and August combined (55 games). Red Sox starters have a 6.82 ERA this month, the worst of any MLB team in September since the 2008 Tigers. No wonder Boston is 5-16 since the calendar turned.

Lester (15-8, 3.15) has been a bit off of late. After five straight starts of allowing one run or less, Lester has given up four runs over 11 innings his last two games. He is 2-0 at Yankee Stadium this year and is the only Boston starter with an ERA under 4.00 in September. The Yankees start righty Freddy Garcia (11-8, 3.77). Garcia hasn’t gone six full innings in his past three starts and allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings at Toronto in his last outing.

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One of the most unbelievable collapses in baseball history continues to unfold before our eyes as the Boston Red Sox have officially coughed up sole possession of the AL wild-card lead following Monday’s 6-3 loss at last-place Baltimore. The Sox’s tailspin is so pronounced it’s hard to see them winning tonight, either, but they -160 favorites on Bodog’s MLB baseball odds.

Tampa Bay’s 5-2 home win over the Yankees knotted the wild-card standings. The Rays of course were nine games back on Sept. 2, but Boston has lost 17 of its past 22 games. This would be the biggest lead blown this late in the season in MLB history. Boston is 6-19 in September, the second-worst record in the majors behind the Minnesota Twins. It's also the Red Sox's second-worst September ever with only a 4-18 mark in 1926 surpassing it.

And the injuries are piling up for Boston. Third baseman Kevin Youkilis isn’t close to returning from a sports hernia. Catcher Jason Varitek was a late scratch Monday. He took a ball off his left knee in Sunday's second game against New York. He was replaced by Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who left in the eighth vs. the O’s when struck near the throat by a foul ball. It's not clear as of this writing if either guy will play tonight.

Boston puts its faith in lefty Erik Bedard (1-2, 3.63 with Boston), a former Oriole, tonight. He was knocked around by Baltimore in his last start, allowing four runs and five hits in 2 2/3 innings. The Orioles, who have beaten Boston four out of five in the past week, start Tommy Hunter (3-3, 5.06). Hunter exited two outs into the seventh inning of last Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Red Sox with a right groin strain, but has been OK’d to pitch tonight.

If Boston and Tampa Bay end up tied after Wednesday’s regular-season finale, they would play a one-game playoff in St. Petersburg.

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The Ozzie Guillen era is over in Chicago as the White Sox have reportedly traded their manager to his hometown team, the Florida Marlins. You don’t see trades involving managers too often!

Actually, the Marlins almost acquired Guillen last year. But Florida wasn’t ready to meet Chicago’s asking price of promising young outfielder Logan Morrison and decided to hire Edwin Rodriguez instead. It appears the Marlins sent two minor-leaguers to the White Sox, who released Guillen from the remaining season on his contract. He told his players before Monday’s game that it would be his last, and the White Sox beat Toronto 4-3.

Earlier Monday, Marlins interim manager Jack McKeon, who replaced Rodriguez earlier this summer, officially announced his retirement. And Guillen met with White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf and essentially demanded a raise and a new contract.

Guillen was McKeon's third-base coach in 2003 when the Marlins won the World Series. He left the Marlins for Chicago after that season and has been there ever since, leading Chicago to World Series championship in 2005 in his second year as manager (he was a former Rookie of the Year as a White Sox shortstop). But the Sox have missed the playoffs the past three seasons and Guillen openly feuded at times with GM Kenny Williams. The White Sox were expected to contend for the AL Central title this year but have struggled to the third sub-.500 finish during Guillen's eight-year tenure.

The Marlins want Guillen because they believe he will help draw fans to their new ballpark that opens next spring – the team will be renamed the Miami Marlins. The reportedly are prepared to offer Guillen a contract of at least four years at about double his $2 million salary for 2012. The Marlins have declined comment. During the seventh inning of Monday's game against the Nationals, several fans in the sparse crowd at Sun Life Stadium began chanting "Ozzie! Ozzie!"

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Lost in the epic collapse of the Boston Red Sox has been the inspired play of the Tampa Bay Rays.

After being down as many as nine games in the AL Wild-Card race the Rays have tied the Red Sox with a 5-2 win over the New York Yankees Monday night. Both the Red Sox and Rays have two games left on the season.

Starter James Shields gave up runs in the 1st and 3rd innings then shut the Yankee bats down, yielding six hits on the evening. Kyle Farnsworth subbed in for the game’s final out to grab the save.

“It’s been a nice little run. All the stars have been aligned for us and here we are,” Shields said. “This is what baseball is all about.”

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Betting Analysis: What has been the key to the Rays improbable run? Defense.

Amidst the Rays’ 13-8 record over their last 21 games is the fact that 13 of those has gone UNDER the total. A big component is the play of Shields. Kid is money versus the total, six of his last seven starts have gone UNDER. If you were looking for an ace to ride it would be him.

However, the Rays have to make the playoffs first. They’ll play the Yankees again on Tuesday and Wednesday, and, if the Red Sox can win their two games versus the Baltimore Orioles it’ll be down to an epic one-game playoff in Tampa.



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The AL Wild Card has become a test of survival for the Boston Red Sox as they withstood a late rally by the Baltimore Orioles to win 8-7 and stay tied with the Tampa Bay Rays in the AL Wild Card race.

The Boston bats got hot early in the contest, teeing off three dingers overall to take a 7-4 going into the seventh inning stretch. However, the Orioles seemed determined to play spoiler for their AL East rival by scoring two in the 8th and one in the 9th, luckily an 8th inning homer by Red Sox catcher Ryan Lavarnay was enough to hold them off.

The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Yankees 5-3 therefore both teams remain tied going into their final regular season game on Wednesday. If both win again it'll come down to a one-game playoff.

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Betting Analysis: If you bet MLB totals you should be loving the Red Sox right now. Despite their epic collapse in September the Sox are 8-1-1 O/U (OVER/UNDER) . Boston's pitching has been brutal, which means its bats will have to come alive to keep winning.

How they will perform tomorrow with their season on the line is anyone's guess. They'll be hoping Jon Lester regains his mid-season form as he'll get the start after just three days rest. Lester has been a big part of Boston's collapse, giving up 16 runs in his last 13.2 innings of work.

Boston closes out its season versus Baltimore Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.


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Just moments after Boston blew it in Baltmore, Evan Longoria propelled the Tampa Bay Rays to the playoffs.

Longoria had two home runs versus the New York Yankees but none bigger than a deep shot to left field in the bottom of the 12th that gave the Rays the 8-7 win and AL Wild Card.

The Rays were sleepwalking their playoff hopes away through seven innings with no runs and a seven-run deficit. But in the 8th they would stage an epic comeback: Sam Fuld got things started by walking in a run, then Sean Rodriguez was hit by a pitch to bring in another. B.J. Upton hit a sacrifice fly to give them three. Longoria then sent the Rays crowd into a frenzy with a three-run shot to get within one run. Pinch hitter Dan Johnson hit the game-tying home run in the 9th to force extra innings and Longoria's eventual heroics.

It's surprising the Yankees held down the Rays bats for so long as they were essentially fielding relievers, setting up their rotation for the playoffs. On the other side a usually strong Rays pitching staff came out throwing blanks, David Price gave up five runs in just four innings of work.

However, when the game was tied, the Rays relievers made sure it kept the Yankees off the scoreboard, allowing only two hits the rest of the way.

It's only fitting the Rays would stage an epic comeback like this after being down nine games in the AL Wild Card in early September.

The Rays will now face the Texas Rangers in Game 1 of the ALDS on Friday at 5:07 P.M. ET.


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After a truly epic night of baseball and an amazing comeback by the Tampa Bay Rays, the American League best-of-five Division Series matchups are official and begin Friday when Tampa Bay visits Texas in a rematch of one of last year’s ALDS and the New York Yankees host the Detroit Tigers. Bet on both series now on Bodog’s MLB baseball odds.

Texas beat Tampa Bay in five games in last year’s ALDS but the Rangers had Cliff Lee to win two of those games. Both the Rangers and Rays enter on fire. Tampa Bay has won five in a row and was 32-17 since Aug. 8 to overtake Boston for the AL wild card. The Rangers, meanwhile, won their final six games and 14 of their final 16 to take the AL West for the second year in a row. Texas also had the AL's second-best second-half winning percentage and set a franchise record with 96 wins.

In the season series, the Rangers had the advantage 5-4. Tampa Bay still hasn’t announced who it will start in Game 1 as it used its three best pitchers – James Shields, Jeremy Hellickson and David Price – in its final three games against the Yankees. It’s possible but unlikely Shields could come back on three days’ rest. Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon will announce his starter later today. Wade Davis and Jeff Niemann are candidates, as is rookie Matt Moore. Texas goes with lefty C.J. Wilson. He was 1-2 with a 3.70 ERA in four starts last season in the playoffs. And he's particularly tough against the Rays, going 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA in 17 career appearances (four starts).

The Yankees, meanwhile, have the unenviable task of opening against Tigers ace and Cy Young lock Justin Verlander on Friday. However, Verlander had two no-decisions with a 4.50 ERA, .250 average against and an uncharacteristic eight walks in 12 innings against New York in the regular season. The Yanks have their ace, CC Sabathia, in the opener. The Yankees are 7-1 in Sabathia's eight postseason starts. Detroit and New York haven’t played each other since early May.

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Both led in the Wild Card, both out. If you're a Atlanta Braves or Boston Red Sox fan, you shouldn't be too surprised.

The Braves and Red Sox had insurmountable leads in the Wild Card race, 8.5 and 9 in early September respectively, and both decided to fall asleep at the wheel, figuratively driving themselves into a ditch they couldn't get out of Wednesday night. It's fitting that both held the lead at some point in the crucial contest, only to both lose 4-3.

Atlanta had the 3-2 lead going into the top of the 9th versus the Philadelphia Phillies, but Craig Kimbrel would blow his third save in September, giving up a run to tie the game 3-3. In the 13th Braves reliever Scott Linebrink put two Braves on base with just one out. Jimmy Rollins flied out to center, but Chase Utley grounded a 3-2 pitch into right field to keep the inning going. Hunter Pence would follow up with a go-ahead single.

When the Braves had their shot to tie in the bottom of the inning, only Dan Uggla could get on base with one out before Freddie Freeman hit into a 3-6-3 double play to end Atlanta's season.

Boston's season ending loss almost seemed like fate. The Red Sox had the lead and momentum before a rain delay seemingly changed their fortunes. They led the Baltimore Orioles 3-2 while their AL Wild Card rival, the Tampa Bay Rays, was down 7-0 to the New York Yankees. One hour and 26 minutes later and the Rays were down by just a run, and the Red Sox confidence seemingly washed away. Jonathan Papelbon, the Red Sox reliable closer the last six years, would give up two runs in the bottom of the 9th. Seconds later Longoria hit the game-winning home run for Tampa Bay.

“We’ll go down in history as one of the worst collapses in history, so it definitely doesn’t feel good to be part of that,” left fielder Carl Crawford said. “We had high expectations, and to fall short the way we did is definitely disappointing for us.”

Don't worry Carl, you're not the only team.


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It was supposed to be the marquee opening game of the postseason when CC Sabathia and the Yankees were set to host AL Cy Young award lock Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers in Game 1 of the ALDS on Friday. Unfortunately, Mother Nature got in the way and ended both pitchers’ nights after the top of the second inning. But now we get to see them both on short rest tonight in Game 3 of the series, with it knotted at 1-1. Detroit is a -128 favorite on Bodog’s MLB baseball odds with live betting available.

The Tigers tied up the series on Sunday, which was originally supposed to be an off day, with a 5-3 win. Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez each had three hits, with Cabrera’s two-out, two-run homer in the first being the big blow. That ended New York’s seven-game winning streak in the ALDS. By the way, in the Yankees’ last eight LDS appearances, the result of Game 2 of the series matched the result of the series. So if they won Game 2 they won the series. If they lost it, they lost the LDS (and it’s been split at 4-4).

Sabathia, who threw 27 pitches in Game 1, has made three starts in Comerica Park for the Yankees and he’s lost all three games. Despite a 17-to-3 strikeout-to-walk rate, he allowed 14 runs in 21 innings in those three games. He won his first six decisions of his career at the park but since then, he’s just 1-5 with a 5.54 ERA. Sabathia posted a 0-1 record and 4.15 ERA in two starts against the Tigers during the regular season. Verlander, who threw 25 pitches in Game 1, has allowed just two home runs in 32 2/3 career innings against the Yankees at home. But in his last two starts against the Yankees at home, Verlander has walked eight in 12 2/3 innings. He went 10-3 with a 2.37 ERA in 16 home starts in 2011.

Detroit took three of four at home against New York from May 2-5 and is 27-22 versus the Yankees at Comerica Park.

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Thanks to a Ben Francisco three-run, pinch-hit homer on Tuesday, the Philadelphia Phillies are now one win from returning to the National League Championship Series for the fourth year in a row. And Philly is a -125 favorite on Bodog’s MLB baseball odds to win tonight’s Game 4 in St. Louis.

Francisco’s shot came with two out in the seventh inning of a scoreless game and it was just enough as the Phils won 3-2 to take a 2-1 series lead. Philadelphia starter Cole Hamels was brilliant, striking out eight in six shutout innings – Francisco hit for Hamels in the seventh. Ryan Madson pitched the final 1 2/3 innings for the save. The Cards stranded 14 in the game. Both Ryan Theriot and Albert Pujols had four hits for St. Louis – the rest of the team combined for four hits.

It’s not clear if St. Louis will have star outfielder Matt Holliday tonight. He has been battling an inflamed tendon on his right middle finger and has yet to start a game in this series. Holliday was able to take batting practice before Tuesday’s loss. He had a pinch-hit single and may be relegated to a pinch-hitting role again for this one. Manager Tony La Russa said Holliday has not tried throwing. The Cardinals had considered replacing Holliday the rest of this series. Allen Craig started Tuesday in left field, Holliday's spot, and Lance Berkman batted cleanup.

The Cardinals turn to Edwin Jackson to save their season. Jackson, who was acquired earlier this summer from the White Sox (via Toronto), been arguably the Cards’ best starter since late July. He allowed two or fewer earned runs in nine of 12 starts, pitching at least six innings in 10 out of 12. Jackson hasn’t faced Philly since July 28 of last season, when he was still pitching for Arizona. No one on the Phillies' roster has more than seven at-bats against Jackson.

The Phillies go with Roy Oswalt. He has faced St. Louis three times this year, going 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA. He's 5-1 with a 3.39 ERA in his career in 12 postseason games, including 10 starts. Pujols is a career .316 hitter (30-for-95) with seven homers and 17 RBIs against Oswalt. The last time Oswalt pitched in a playoff game in St. Louis, he sent his Astros to the 2005 World Series in the final game at the old Busch Stadium.

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When it’s a 0-0 game going into the the 7th, manager decisions become crucial. On this day it was Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel that made the right ones.

Manuel brought in pinch-hitter Ben Francisco in the top of the 7th and the part-time player belted a three-run homerun, he then brought in reliever Ryan Madson for 1.2 innings to hold off a late rally and pick up the 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals Tuesday. The Phillies now lead the best-of-five series 2-1.

“To steal a game here, if worse comes to worst, we come back home and we’ve got another game with Doc (Halladay) on the mound,” Phillies slugger Ryan Howard said. “We put ourselves in a great situation.”

Betting Analysis: The Phillies have now won six of their last seven, three of which were at a the desperate Atlanta Braves in the last three games of the regular season.

Roy Oswalt (9-10, 3.69 ERA) will get the start for Philly next. He’s been inconsistent in his last few starts, shutting out Atlanta on Sept. 27th but getting lit up for six runs versus the Washington Nationals five days prior. However, in his last meeting with St. Louis on Sept. 17 he gave up no runs and just five hits in seven innings of work.


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We are guaranteed at least one winner-take-all game in MLB’s four Division Series matchups after the New York Yankees clobbered the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday in Motown. Game 5 between these two, back in the Bronx, is Thursday night. New York is a -150 favorite on Bodog’s MLB baseball odds to return to the ALCS.

A.J. Burnett came up big in Tuesday’s 10-1 win and former Tiger Curtis Granderson was the player of the game, making two sensational catches – one in the first inning likely saved three runs. Granderson also had an RBI double and New York broke it open with six runs in the eighth. Alex Rodriguez, hitless in the series coming into the game, had a pair of singles.

The Yankees’ nine-run win is tied for the second-largest margin of victory in team history when they were facing elimination. New York had lost five straight postseason road games when facing elimination, starting with Game 7 of the 2001 World Series at Arizona.

The pitching matchup Thursday features each team’s No. 2 starter in the Tigers’ Doug Fister and Yankees’ Ivan Nova. Both came on as relievers Saturday after Game 1 began Friday night but was halted after 1½ innings. Nova allowed two runs over 6 1/3 innings, while Fister was rocked for six runs on seven hits in 4 2/3 innings as New York won 9-3. Nova was unbeaten in his final 16 regular-season starts, going 12-0. Fister had been 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA and 0.84 WHIP for Detroit since arriving from Seattle via trade.

With today’s off day, both clubs will have pretty much every pitcher available to come on in relief, including aces Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia. Verlander has never pitched in relief in his career.

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Thanks to two rookies who weren’t even on the Opening Day roster, the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-1 on Tuesday night in the desert to close Milwaukee’s NLDS series lead to 2-1 with Game 4 in Arizona tonight. Both clubs are at -105 for Game 4 with live betting available on Bodog’s MLB baseball odds.

Snakes infielder Paul Goldschmidt hit a grand slam and had a franchise postseason record five RBIs and Josh Collmenter went seven innings, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out six. He has allowed only one earned run in 21 innings against Milwaukee this year. Collmenter is only the second rookie starter in postseason history to go at least 7 innings, allowing two hits or fewer. The other? Matt Moore, who did it last Friday against the Rangers. For Goldschmidt, It was only the third rookie slam in postseason history, following the Yankees' Gil McDougald in Game 5 of the 1951 World Series and the Yankees' Ricky Ledee in Game 4 of the 1999 AL Championship Series.

For what it’s worth, all 19 of the teams that have taken a 2-0 lead in the NLDS have gone on to win the series. The Brewers haven’t won a playoff series since 1982.

Tonight will feature a pair of left-handers in Randy Wolf (13-10, 3.69) for Milwaukee and Joe Saunders (12-13, 3.69 ERA) for Arizona. Wolf was knocked around in two starts by Arizona this season, going 0-2 with a 6.08 ERA. On July 5 at Miller Park, Wolf surrendered seven runs on 10 hits, including home runs to Gerardo Parra and Justin Upton, over six innings. Two outings later at Chase Field, Wolf allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits over 7 1/3 innings in a 3-0 loss.

Saunders, meanwhile, started once against Milwaukee this year and did not get a decision after allowing two runs over seven innings. He was originally scheduled to pitch Game 3 in this series, but he was switched to the Game 4 start because he jammed his left hand in batting practice before the last game of the regular season. The hand is fine now.

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The American League Championship Series could be all but over by the end of Tuesday night as the Texas Rangers visit the Detroit Tigers with a 2-0 series lead. Detroit is a -133 favorite on Bodog’s MLB baseball odds.

Normally the teams would have an off day for travel but that disappeared when Game 2 of the ALCS was postponed from Sunday to yesterday. The Rangers’ Nelson Cruz made history on Monday, hitting a walk-off grand slam as Texas won 7-3. It was the first walk-off grand slam in MLB postseason history. Detroit stranded 13 runners, making it 22 it has left on base so far in this series. The Tigers also lost outfielder Magglio Ordonez for the rest of the playoffs because of ankle problems. But fellow outfielder Delmon Young, who was thought to be out the rest of this series with a strained muscle, was in the Game 2 lineup.

Only three teams have overcome 0-2 deficits in the LCS since it became a seven-game series in 1985: the Royals and Cardinals, both in '85, and the 2004 Red Sox. All nine teams to win an ALCS game on a walk-off home run went on to win the series.

The Tigers turn to Doug Fister, who was very good in winning Game 5 of the ALDS at Yankee Stadium. But he was rocked in the start before that by the Yanks. Fister, acquired from Seattle at the trade deadline, faced Texas twice in the regular season, going 0-1 with a hefty 15.95 ERA. The Rangers start Colby Lewis. He hasn’t pitched since Oct. 3, when he allowed just one run and one hit in six innings in an ALDS win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Lewis faced Detroit twice during the season, going 1-1 with a 3.68 ERA.

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