ALDS Game 4 Preview: Yankees at Tigers

New York Yankees (1-2) at Detroit Tigers (2-1)

Probable Pitchers:
Tuesday October 4, 8:37p:
RHP A.J. Burnett (11-11, 5.15, 173 K, 83 BB)
Hitter to Fear: Victor Martinez (7 for 27, 2 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI)
Hitter to Fail: Delmon Young (3 for 14, 5 K)

at

RHP Rick Porcello (14-9, 4.75, 104 K, 46 BB)
Hitter to Fear: Robinson Cano (5 for 11, 1 2B, 1 RBI)
Hitter to Fail: Derek Jeter (0 for 9, 1 K)

What to Watch For:
1. A.J. Burnett will start his 9th career game against the Detroit Tigers. He is 4-2 with a not so impressive 6.33 ERA. In his last start at Comerica Park, he received the loss after giving up 5 runs (2 earned) on only 3 hits. The Tigers winning pitcher that day was Rick Porcello.

2. Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has yet to record a hit in the postseason. He is 0 for 10 with 3 strikeouts. He is 1 for 4 against Porcello in his career.

On a negative note - Austin Jackson, Alex Avila, and Wilson Betemit are also all hitless in the 2011 postseason.

3. Rick Porcello will be the youngest Detroit Tigers pitcher to start a postseason game in club history. Before tonight, Justin Verlander was the youngest back in 2006.

On Deck:
Hopefully an ALCS matchup.