Lineup breakdown: Tigers-A's, Game 2
A look at Saturday's starting lineups for Game 2 of the American League Division Series between the Tigers and the Athletics:
TIGERS
The only change in the Tigers lineup for Saturday is Don Kelly will be in left field and batting eighth. He entered Friday's game as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning. Oakland's starter Sonny Gray has never pitched against the Tigers, but left-handed hitters have more success against him with a .226 batting average and .622 OPS compared to right-handed batters hitting .198 with a .499 OPS. Kelly earns the start over Andy Dirks, who started Game 1 and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout at the plate.
Most eyes will be on Miguel Cabrera, however, who looked like he was in pain on a ground out in the eighth inning on Friday. Since Aug. 27, he only has two extra-base hits over his last 26 games. In the last series of the season in Miami, Cabrera went 4-for-6 against a starter he never faced before.
Victor Martinez, Alex Avila and Omar Infante all had multi-hit games in Game 1, while Jose Iglesias and Dirks were the only Tigers starters to go hitless. Dating back to Sept. 18, Iglesias is in a 0-for-17 skid.
1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Torii Hunter, RF
3. Miguel Cabrera, 3B
4. Prince Fielder, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Omar Infante, 2B
8. Don Kelly, LF
9. Jose Iglesias, SS
ATHLETICS
The A's added Seth Smith to their lineup on Saturday as the designated hitter, taking Daric Barton out and moving Brandon Moss to first base. While Smith is 2-for-15 against Detroit's starter Justin Verlander, he's hit a home run and walked six times. Moss replaces Barton defensively after Barton made an uncharacteristic play in the field on Friday that led to a run.
Moss and Yoenis Cespedes went 3-for-8 in Game 1, while the rest of the lineup went 0-for-22. Coco Crisp, who drew three walks on Friday, is 9-for-32 with a home run in his career against Verlander. Meanwhile Stephen Vogt (0-for-5) and Eric Sogard (0-for-7) have struggled against Verlander.
1. Coco Crisp, CF
2. Jed Lowrie, SS
3. Josh Donaldson, 3B
4. Brandon Moss, 1B
5. Yoenis Cespedes, LF
6. Seth Smith, DH
7. Josh Reddick, RF
8. Stephen Vogt, C
9. Eric Sogard, 2B