Lineup breakdown: Tigers-Red Sox, Game 2

BOSTON -- A look at Sunday's lineups for Game 2 of the American League Championship Series between the Tigers and Red Sox at Fenway Park:

TIGERS
As Jim Leyland said about Jhonny Peralta after Saturday's 1-0 win in Game 1, "He's gotta play." Peralta is 8-for-16 with a team-leading six RBIs in the playoffs, and he's fresh off a 3-for-4 night that saw him hit two doubles and drive in the game's only run.

He's making his second playoff start at shortstop for Game 2, with the left-handed-hitting Don Kelly (2-for-5 in the AL Division Series) starting in left field against right-hander Clay Buchholz. Leyland will be sacrificing some defense to get the offense that Peralta provides. The slick-fielding Jose Iglesias went 1-for-12 in the ALDS and 1-for-3 in Game 1, and will come off the bench in Game 2.

"Jhonny Peralta is no donkey," Leyland said of his shortstop decision. "He's made the All-Star team two times for me as a shortstop in the last few years. He's a very good shortstop."

Prince Fielder has yet to notch an extra-base hit in these playoffs, though he has six singles in 21 at-bats. Torii Hunter (4-for-24) and Miguel Cabrera (5-for-21) have struggled in their careers off Buchholz.

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Torii Hunter, RF
3. Miguel Cabrera, 3B
4. Prince Fielder, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Jhonny Peralta, SS
7. Alex Avila, C
8. Omar Infante, 2B
9. Don Kelly, LF

RED SOX
The Red Sox were two outs away from being no-hit Saturday night, and manager John Farrell predictably made some changes for the Game 2 matchup against Max Scherzer.

Lefty Mike Carp gets his first postseason start, replacing righty Mike Napoli at first base.

Righty Jonny Gomes makes his first playoff start against a right-handed starter -- and first overall since Game 2 of the ALDS on Oct. 5 -- in place of the switch-hitting Daniel Nava in left field.

Napoli, who went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in Game 1, is 2-for-16 in the postseason and 1-for-13 in his career against Scherzer, while Carp posted a .300/.367/.537 slash line in 215 plate appearances against righties this season. Nava broke up Saturday's no-hitter with a one-out, ninth-inning single off Joaquin Benoit, but is 1-for-9 with two strikeouts in his career against Scherzer and struggles against sliders from the right side. Gomes, who has pretty even lefty-righty splits, is batting .222 in these playoffs and is 2-for-6 against Scherzer.

1. Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
2. Shane Victorino, RF
3. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
4. David Ortiz, DH
5. Mike Carp, 1B
6. Jonny Gomes, LF
7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
8. Stephen Drew, SS
9. Will Middlebrooks, 3B