ALDS Game 1 Overflow Thread #2: A's at Tigers

Bullpen up, doom imminent.

ALDS Game 1 Overflow Thread: A's at Tigers

Things that happened:

• Coco Crisp hit a leadoff home run off of Justin Verlander to open the game.
• General panic
• Austin Jackson doubled, Quintin Berry singled, and Jackson scored on a double play ball by Miguel Cabrera.
• Exhale
• Omar Infante doubled with one out in the 3rd inning, then later scored on a swinging bunt single by Berry.

ALDS Game 1, A's at Tigers: 6:07 p.m.

ALDS Game 1 Preview

Tigers' ALDS roster: Drew Smyly, Danny Worth are 24th and 25th men

Brennan Boesch is out, and Danny Worth and Drew Smyly are in, as the Tigers announced their ALDS roster this morning.

ALDS Game 1 Preview: Athletics at Tigers

Justin Verlander will face off against rookie sensation Jarrod Parker in Game 1 of the ALDS tonight at Comerica Park.

Tigers set ALDS rotation: Justin Verlander gets the ball in Game 1

The Tigers announced their American League Division Series rotation schedule this morning. No real surprises appeared.

Game 1: Justin Verlander

Game 2: Doug Fister

Game 3: Anibal Sanchez

Game 4*: Max Scherzer

Game 5*: Justin Verlander

*if necessary

To me, there's no real surprises here. You knew Verlander would get the ball in Game 1. Doug Fister has been one of Detroit's best starters when healthy, and he recently set an American League record for consecutive strikeouts (9).

Some may be surprised about the order of starters for the third and fourth games. I think what it comes down to is that Sanchez is healthy and Scherzer might benefit from a few days more of rest. Sanchez, since mid-August, has been a productive member of the rotation. He has allowed more than two runs just twice in his last eight starts, and he recently earned a shutout. Scherzer, meanwhile, needed to take some time after a reported deltoid issue, then hurt his ankle during the team's celebration for clinching the AL Central title. Sure, he started on Wednesday and appeared to do fine. But at this point, you just feel a bit more comfortable with Sanchez.

Tigers' ALDS playoff roster projected: few surprises appear

Projecting the playoff roster is an inexact science. This one probably isn't 100 percent, either, but it should be pretty close.

Playoff schedule is set; Tigers host Oakland A's on Saturday

The regular season is over. 162 games are in the books. Twenty teams have been eliminated and ten teams continue playing baseball. Four of the surviving teams will play off in two "wild card showdowns", one game in each league, on Friday, October 5. Among those four teams are the participants of the 2011 World Series, the St Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers.

When the dust has settled after Friday's one game do or die showdowns, eight teams, four in each league, will begin the real playoffs, culminating in the World Series.

For the Detroit Tigers, the wild card showdowns on Friday have no impact. Detroit will host the amazing A's from Oakland, baseball's hottest team in the second half of the season, beginning Saturday, October 6, at Comerica park in Detroit. Starting pitchers have yet to be announced, but expect the Tigers to start Justin Verlander on Saturday. Games will be televised on TBS

Following is the official playoff schedule for the wild card and league division series games. Times have been announced for the wild card games on Friday, and for the opening games on Saturday, but times have not yet been announced for the remaining games. This schedule will be updated as information becomes available.

Friday, October 5, 2012:

5:00 PM St Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves

8:00 PM Baltimore Orioles at Texas Rangers

Saturday, October 6

6:00 PM Oakland A's at Detroit Tigers

9:00 PM Cincinnati Reds at San Francisco Giants

Sunday, October 7

Oakland A's at Detroit Tigers

Cincinnati Reds at San Francisco Giants

New York Yankees at Texas/ Baltimore

Washington Nationals at St Louis/ Atlanta

Monday, October 8

New York Yankees at Texas/ Baltimore

Washington Nationals at St Louis/ Atlanta

Tuesday, October 9

Detroit Tigers at Oakland A's

San Francisco Giants at Cincinnati Reds

Wednesday, October 10

Detroit Tigers at Oakland A's

San Francisco Giants at Cincinnati Reds

Texas/ Baltimore at New York

St Louis/ Atlanta at Washington

Thursday, October 11

Detroit Tigers at Oakland A's

San Francisco Giants at Cincinnati Reds

Texas/ Baltimore at New York

St Louis/ Atlanta at Washington

Friday, October 12

Texas/ Baltimore at New York

St Louis/ Atlanta at Washington

Saturday, October 13

American League Championship Series

Sunday October 14

American League Championship Series

National League Championship Series

A's claim west title, playoff scenarios updated

With the Oakland A's claiming the American League's west division crown by defeating the Texas Rangers, the playoff picture became a little clearer. Here are the scenarios.

Tigers to play host to ALDS at 6:07 p.m. ET Saturday

Detroit's opponent may not be known, but at least we've got a game time for the beginning of the ALDS this weekend.