ALCS preview: Tigers win in six

• Series will come down to pitching. CC vs. Verlander
• Detroit starters were brilliant down the stretch
• The Yankees know how to play under pressure

The Case for the Tigers: The Detroit starters were brilliant down the stretch, registering a 2.52 ERA over the last 41 games of the regular season, then stretched that hot run into the playoffs. Justin Verlander overwhelmed the Oakland A's in two starts in the Division Series, where the Tigers staff allowed just 10 earned runs in 43 2/3 innings (2.06 ERA). Detroit's lineup is not as productive as in previous seasons, but it's deep. The Tigers outlasted the A's while getting a total of three RBI from Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera, the latter driving in his lone run on a hit-by-pitch.

The Case for the Yankees: New York has the game's most explosive offense, and it's tailor-made for its ballpark, where the Yankees could play four games in the series. The pressure of the moment never seems to get the better of the Yankees, a veteran club that led the majors with 46 come-from-behind wins in the regular season, then added two against the Baltimore Orioles in the Division Series. The Yankees' rotation, questioned for most of the season, pitched to a 2.35 ERA against the Orioles.

The Swing Game: The likely Game 2 matchup of Hiroki Kuroda against Anibal Sanchez could be pivotal, especially with Verlander waiting to take the mound in Detroit on Tuesday and certainly for a possible Game 7. Kuroda has been New York's most consistent pitcher and fared well in two starts against Detroit, allowing five earned runs in 13 1/3 innings (3.38 ERA). Sanchez had a 2.15 ERA in his last eight starts and pitched well in losing Game 3 to the A's.

Player to watch: Alex Rodriguez. Who else? Rodriguez went 2-for-16 with nine strikeouts in the ALDS and left six runners in scoring position. After getting pinch-hit for twice in the ALDS and benched for the finale, A-Rod will be watched closely in the ALCS. That may only increase the pressure he seems to put on himself in the playoffs. Rodriguez finally had a postseason breakout with six homers and 18 RBI in 2009, but since then he's 11-for-66 (.167) with no homers and six RBI in 18 games.

The Bullpen Matchup: Both bullpens are well rested, but while the Yankees relievers were nearly untouchable in the ALDS – allowing one run in 11 1/3 innings – the Tigers' have been shaky. Setup man Joaquin Benoit and closer Jose Valverde have been the source of increasing consternation in Detroit, and the latter did not appease it when he was hammered by the A's in blowing the Game 4 save. The Yankees' Rafael Soriano has been steady all year and threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings in the ALDS.

The Verdict: Tigers in six. With aces Verlander and CC Sabathia having pitched the clinchers, the rest of the starters will come into play early in the series. That's where Detroit's advantage could be a big factor, and the extra day of rest from having finished on Thursday may help too. "Everybody kept talking about saving Verlander,'' Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said. "We've got (Doug) Fister and Sanchez going the first two games, and those guys are really good.'' In addition, A-Rod is not the only Yankees regular struggling. Robinson Cano went 2-for-22 in the Division Series, and Nick Swisher, Curtis Granderson and Russell Martin batted below .200 in the ALDS as well.