2013 MLB ALDS Picks: Detroit Tigers versus Oakland Athletics Odds and Predictions – Free MLB Playoff Picks

2013 MLB ALDS Picks: Detroit Tigers versus Oakland Athletics Odds and Predictions – Free MLB Playoff Picks: For the second year in a row, the Detroit Tigers (93-6) will meet the Oakland Athletics (96-66) in the American league Division Series. Last season, the series went all five games with Detroit ace Justin Verlander throwing a complete game shutout in the deciding Game 5, and this time around, both teams are better. Needless to say, another thrilling ALDS matchup between the two could be on tap, and the series kicks off Friday night in Oakland.

The secret to Detroit’ success this year has been a dominant starting rotation and powerful core of sluggers. Even with Verlander struggling a bit by his standards, the Tigers have the best starting rotation in the majors. Verlander, Max Scherzer and Anibal Sanchez all struck out more than 200 batters, and Scherzer led the majors in wins while Sanchez led the AL in ERA. At the plate, defending AL MVP Miguel Cabrera had another MVP-caliber season, winning the batting title and finishing second in homers and RBIs. Meanwhile, Prince Fielder and Victor Martinez provide solid protection, and the Tigers hit .286 as a team this year and scored the second most runs.

In typical Oakland fashion, a lack of star power didn’t stop the Athletics from winning a ton of games. Veteran starter Bartolo Colon came out of nowhere to lead an underrated rotation, and Grant Balfour leads a hard-throwing bullpen that can shorten games as well as any unit in the majors. Outfielder Yeonis Cespedes is the closest thing Oakland’s lineup has to a star, and despite a modest team average, the Athletics ranked third in the AL in homers this year and fourth in runs scored. However, it is worth noting that Cespedes is battling a shoulder injury heading into the playoffs.

The Tigers Win If:

If the Tigers are going to beat the Athletics for the second year in a row, their pitching staff needs to control the series. Detroit’s biggest edge is its starting rotation, but if a couple of poor outings or even a couple of short outings will turn the advantage back to the Athletics and their stellar bullpen. At the plate, the Tigers need to strike early and games and play from ahead. Early runs will allow the Tigers’ pitchers to attack the Oakland hitters, and it will also limit the amount of runs that Detroit has to score against the stout Athletics pen. In the end, the Tigers can win the series if they stake their starters to early leads and their starters consistently pitch deep into ball games.

The Athletics Win If:

Patience at the plate will go a long way to letting the Athletics win this series for a variety of reasons. Detroit’s starters love to pile out strikeouts, but if Oakland makes them work to get their outs, pitch counts are going to start to climb. The sooner the Athletics can get to a mediocre Detroit bullpen the better. Similarly, Oakland’s starters just need to hold their own on the mound and keep the game close into the later innings. The Athletics bullpen is nasty, and if they are within striking distance when the games become a battle of relievers, they can take advantage and win the series.

Bottom Line:

The fact that the Athletics have home-field advantage can’t be overlooked. After all, Oakland posted the best home record in the majors this year, tallying an impressive 52-29 record. Yes, the Tigers have an intimidating starting rotation, but Verlander’s slight regression makes every game in the series winnable for either side. Perhaps more importantly, Cabrera rolls into the playoffs in the middle of his worst stretch of the year thanks to a nagging groin injury. Heck, the powerful Tigers’ offense just managed a combined three runs in three games against a horrible Miami team and were no-hit in the season finale. Detroit is still a great team with a ton of star power, but Oakland is a more complete team. Solid starting pitching, an unflashy but effective offense and a lights out bullpen will carry the Athletics past Detroit and into the ALCS.

Prediction: Oakland Athletics Win the Series

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