Tigers vs Rangers Game 1 Odds 2011 ALCS Picks
Tigers vs Rangers Game 1 Odds 2011 ALCS Picks: It is set ladies and gentleman! The 2011 American League Pennant will go through one of two cities, as the…
Tigers vs Rangers Game 1 Odds 2011 ALCS Picks: It is set ladies and gentleman! The 2011 American League Pennant will go through one of two cities, as the (0-0) Detroit Tigers [-112 ML] and the (0-0) Texas Rangers [+102 ML] play Game 1 of a best-of-seven, 2011 American League Championship Series, with a chance to advance to the 2011 Fall Classic.
First pitch of this crucial ALCS series opener is scheduled for 8:05 PM ET live from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas. Tonight’s OVER/UNDER will be set at a projected, combined total of 7½ runs, and you can catch all the exciting MLB Odds action from now all the way until the 2011 World Series on FOX.
We all know how important pitching is in the postseason. Don’t believe me? Just ask the Yankees, Rays, D-Backs and Phillies, who were all sent packing in the very first round. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at tonight’s starters for Game 1 of the 2011 ALCS! Please remember that from now all the way to the World Series 2011 you can Get $50 in Free MLB Picks Here!
Coming as no surprise, 2011 Cy Young/MVP 2011 candidate, RHP Justin Verlander (2011 ALDS vs Yankees: 1-0, 5.00 ERA in 9.0 IP) will try to get his team a 1-0 lead, as he takes the mound tonight for Jim Leyland’s club. Verlander was the best pitcher ion baseball this season, hands down (2011 regular season: 24-5, 2.40 ERA).
“He throws about 120,” said reigning league MVP, Josh Hamilton of Verlander. “First of all, he’s human. So he can either be on or be off. But what makes him good is he locates his pitches when he’s on. He’s got a 12-to-6 hammer and he throws 95—101 when he wants to. So it puts a lot of different things in your mind if you allow it to.”
For Texas manager Ron Washington, his team had the easiest road to his second consecutive ALCS. With everyone else going the distance in both the AL and the NL, the Rangers took care of business by dropping just one game of their series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Tonight, Washington will hand the ball over to his most reliable starter this season (2011 regular season: 16-7, 2.94 ERA), LHP CJ Wilson (2011 ALDS: 0-1, 10.80 ERA) to try and stop Verlander and the red-hot Tigers. Wilson will be trying to erase the memory of his first postseason start, when he allowed the Rays to walk all over him to the tune of: 7 hits, 8 runs (6 ER) and 3 homeruns in just 5 innings of work.
“That particular game was my first bad game I had in a while. I had of lot of really good games leading up to the playoffs,” Wilson said. “It was unfortunate. I had extra rest. … I feel like it gives me a chance to get back in my routine and execute.”
My Tigers vs Rangers Game 1 Odds 2011 ALCS Picks: I find it impossible to pick against Verlander in Game 1 of the 2011 ALCS! I believe both guys will have good stuff tonight, but Verlander is a superior talent. I like the Tigers by a single run!