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Adam Jones

AL Division Series: Breaking down Tigers vs. Orioles

Paul White
USA TODAY Sports
Adam Jones is the leader of the Orioles.

A look at the best-of-five American League Division Series between the Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers:

In the Orioles' favor: The Orioles are certain there indeed is a home advantage in the playoffs. They have it and a full house can make cozy Camden Yards seem even smaller. The major leagues' most prolific home run team can take advantage of the dimensions, even against Scherzer and Verlander, to get a jump in the series. Scherzer has allowed four homers and a 4.95 ERA in his three games there. Verlander has fared better at 2.84 with five homers allowed in eight games, but three of the homers have been in his last two starts. The Orioles actually had a better team ERA than Detroit this year and play above-average defense.

In the Tigers' favor: Of course, it's the pitching. They held the Orioles to a .228 batting average and .345 slugging percentage in their six games this year. Even Game 4 starter Porcello becomes crucial because he's a ground ball pitcher against the Orioles' big swingers. The Detroit starters know than must exploit the Baltimore power hitters. As Price says of Adam Jones, "He wants to hit. He wants to swing the bat. He doesn't like to walk. We've got to take advantage of that. Sometimes hitters can want it too much. That can lead to bigger swings, higher pop-ups." And don't forget Detroit has plenty of offense, too. Victor Martinez is an MVP candidate and Miguel Cabrera has won the last two years.

Watch this guy: Anibal Sanchez was very much a part of the vaunted Tigers rotation last year. Now, he's coming back from a pectoral muscle issue and hasn't been back long enough to be ready to rejoin the rotation. But he still has above-average stuff, which could provide a sudden boost to the beleaguered bullpen. "I'm fully confident in him pitching in 'high stress' situations," manager Brad Ausmus says. "This is a guy who has excellent stuff. He's battle‑tested and I don't think he will have a problem coming out of the bullpen."

In the end: Rosters get smaller this time of year, at least in terms of who might have an impact on the outcome of a series. That's where Detroit's star power makes up the different in the teams' win-loss records over the 162-game season. Winning at least one of the first two games at home is a must for Baltimore and that still might not be enough. The Orioles must keep the games tight enough to use their advantage of being a better fundamental team. But Detroit's sheer talent should win out. Tigers in 4.

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