Tigers vs GIANTS MATCHUPS
CATCHER
Alex Avila and Gerald Laird played well against the Yankees in the ALCS, but neither became a front-runner for MVP this season, as Buster Posey did for the Giants in the NL.
EDGE: GIANTS
FIRST BASE
Prince Fielder still hasn’t broken out in a postseason series in his career, but he remains one of the best offensive players in the game, while the Giants’ Brandon Belt just finished his first full season in the majors and has yet to prove himself on a consistent basis.
EDGE: TIGERS
SECOND BASE
Marco Scutaro, a 36-year-old journeyman, picked a good time to have the best week of his life at the plate. The midseason pickup has wildly exceeded expectations since arriving from Colorado, never more than when he hit .500 in the NLCS to win the MVP. He will look to bring that success into the World Series against the Tigers, who traded for Omar Infante during the year to stabilize the position.
EDGE: GIANTS
THIRD BASE
After a rough regular season, Pablo Sandoval finished strong and has been one of the most dangerous hitters of the playoffs. Until he wins a Triple Crown, though, as Miguel Cabrera did in the AL this year, Sandoval likely will take a back seat.
EDGE: TIGERS
SHORTSTOP
Jhonny Peralta was a force against the Yankees after a shaky regular season. If he takes that into the World Series, the Giants will have their hands full, while the inexperienced Brandon Crawford is another player San Francisco has to hope matures quickly.
EDGE: TIGERS
LEFT FIELD
Gregor Blanco didn’t provide much at the plate for the Giants during the regular season as they tried to make up for the loss of Melky Cabrera, but Blanco has been efficient in the playoffs. Still, Detroit’s combination of Andy Dirks and Quintin Berry should be more dangerous. EDGE: TIGERS
CENTER FIELD
After not being good enough to play for the Mets, Angel Pagan will be in center for the Giants in the World Series. He has done well in the leadoff spot, but Austin Jackson does things just a little bit better.
EDGE: TIGERS
RIGHT FIELD
Dirks split time with rookie Avisail Garcia against the Yankees, and Garcia looked pretty comfortable, with five hits in 11 at bats. Still, Hunter Pence is a veteran coming off another solid season.
EDGE: GIANTS
DESIGNATED HITTER
The Giants have home-field advantage, so the DH only will be used in three games if it goes the distance — meaning Detroit’s Delmon Young could see some time on the field in the series after he tore up the Yankees again. San Francisco rotated position players like Sandoval and Posey at DH earlier in the season, but Aubrey Huff and Hector Sanchez could see action.
EDGE: EVEN
STARTING PITCHING
The Yankees made the Tigers’ rotation look like future Hall of Famers in the ALCS. While they may not all be bound for Cooperstown, they have Justin Verlander on full rest, as well as Doug Fister, Anibal Sanchez and Max Scherzer. The Giants had to fight through an NLCS that went the distance, so their starters may be more worn down — especially with Matt Cain pitching Game 7.
EDGE: TIGERS
RELIEF PITCHING
The Tigers still need to see if Jose Valverde can right himself after his disaster in The Bronx. Lefty Phil Coke did a great job in Valverde’s place, but Detroit figures to need its closer at some point. With Brian Wilson out, Sergio Romo has done the job in San Francisco.
EDGE: GIANTS
BENCH
The Giants’ Aubrey Huff and Ryan Theriot have had plenty of postseason at-bats in their careers. Don Kelly has done damage off the bench for the Tigers in the past, but was hardly needed against the Yankees.
EDGE: Even
MANAGER
Jim Leyland and Bruce Bochy have both been around long enough to not be affected by the distractions of the World Series and got teams that had to overcome plenty of challenges to get here.
EDGE: EVEN
INTANGIBLES
The Giants roared back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Cardinals, while the Tigers have been sitting back, waiting for a winner after dismantling the Yankees in four games. Though the everyday players being able to stay in a rhythm by being extended to seven games figures to help San Francisco, that advantage figures to be outweighed by Detroit’s well-rested rotation.
EDGE: TIGERS
PICK: TIGERS IN 6