Lineup breakdown: Tigers-A's, Game 5
By Bobby Nightengale/MLB.com A look at Thursday's starting lineups for Game 5 of the American League Division Series between the Tigers and the Athletics:
TIGERS
Jhonny Peralta remains in the starting lineup after going 3-for-7 with a home run and five RBIs in the last two games, but he will make his first start at shortstop since serving his 50-game suspension over the last two months of the regular season. Jose Iglesias will head to the bench, as he was 1-for-12 in this series.
Don Kelly went 2-for-3 against Sonny Gray in Game 2 and will be in left field and batting ninth. Miguel Cabrera also singled against Gray, and is still looking for his first extra-base hit of the postseason.
While the Tigers struggled to get anything going against Gray in Game 2, it will be important for Austin Jackson and Victor Martinez to help power the lineup. Jackson is only 2-for-15 in the series, while Martinez went 3-for-4 with a solo home run to help jumpstart the offense in Game 4.
1. Jackson, CF
2. Torii Hunter, RF
3. Cabrera, 3B
4. Prince Fielder, 1B
5. Martinez, DH
6. Peralta, SS
7. Alex Avila, C
8. Omar Infante, 2B
9. Kelly, LF
ATHLETICS
Manager Bob Melvin made only one switch from his lineup in Game 2 against Justin Verlander, but he shuffled the order around. Alberto Callaspo will make his first start of the postseason and bat seventh as the second baseman, replacing Eric Sogard who is 0-for-9 in the series. Callaspo is 1-for-3 in this year's ALDS, and 4-for-19 in his career against Verlander.
Yoenis Cespedes, who is batting .389 with three extra-base hits and four RBIs, moved up to the cleanup spot. Cespedes went 1-for-3 in Game 2 against Verlander, and also had a strong lineout to right field.
The biggest key for Oakland's lineup is Coco Crisp, who is 7-for-9 with four runs scored and two RBIs over the past two games. Although he has a decent history against Verlander in his career, 9-for-35 with three extra-base hits, he went 0-for-3 against him in Game 2.
1. Crisp, CF
2. Josh Donaldson, 3B
3. Jed Lowrie, SS
4. Cespedes, LF
5. Seth Smith, DH
6. Brandon Moss, 1B
7. Callaspo, 2B
8. Josh Reddick, RF
9. Stephen Vogt, C