The Post breaks down the ALDS matchup between the Yankees and Tigers position by position.
CATCHER — Russell Martin may have started the All-Star game, but Alex Avila had the better overall season. Edge: Tigers
FIRST BASE — Miguel Cabrera had an MVP-type season while Mark Teixeira tailed off severely down the stretch. Prior to his final three games, Teixeira had hit just .200 with two homers and four RBIs in his previous 80 at-bats while Cabrera ended up hitting .344. Edge: Tigers
SECOND BASE — Joe Girardi plans to build the middle of the Yankees’ lineup around Robinson Cano, who has emerged as one of the team’s most feared offensive threats. It took the Tigers a long time to settle on what to do at second and the platoon of Ramon Santiago and Ryan Raburn has been effective, but won’t be as productive as Cano. Edge: Yankees
THIRD BASE — The Yankees should have a huge advantage here, but Alex Rodriguez has been hobbled by a surgically repaired right knee, as well as a sprained left thumb and his production has lagged because of it. Still, if he’s even close to healthy, Rodriguez will be better than the ragtag combination of former Yankee Wilson Betemit and Brandon Inge, who was sent down to the minors this season. If Rodriguez is unable to go, Eric Chavez or Eduardo Nunez could step in, but the dropoff would be significant. Edge: Yankees
SHORTSTOP — Derek Jeter was written off too quickly when he got off to a horrendous start this season. He rebounded to have a strong second half after collecting his 3000th hit. Still, he can’t match Jhonny Peralta’s power number (21 homers) and while Peralta can’t match Jeter’s playoff experience, he had some postseason success with Cleveland in 2007. Edge: Even
LEFT FIELD — Delmon Young provides some power for Detroit, but Brett Gardner is better defensively and adds speed to the lineup. Edge: Yankees
CENTER FIELD — Austin Jackson can be disruptive on the bases, but Curtis Granderson proved this year that he’s dangerous everywhere, with a breakout season in which he finished with 41 homers and 119 RBIs. Edge: Yankees
RIGHT FIELD — Nick Swisher had another solid year, but he still has to prove he can be a consistent threat in the playoffs. His career .162 postseason batting average won’t help the Yanks. Magglio Ordonez has slowed considerably and is no longer the threat he once was, but is coming off a strong September. He is sub-par defensively and figures to split time with Andy Dirks. Edge: Even
DESIGNATED HITTER — Victor Martinez has been terrific for the Tigers, while the Yankees hope for the best with Jorge Posada and newcomer Jesus Montero. Edge: Tigers
STARTING PITCHING — Justin Verlander and CC Sabathia will meet in Game 1 and after that, questions abound. Will Ivan Nova have the same winning touch as he did during the regular season? Can Freddy Garcia continue to fool hitters with his diminished stuff? Detroit has Doug Fister, 8-1 since arriving in a trade, and Max Scherzer, trying to build on a 15-win season. Jim Leyland has said he won’t go with a three-man rotation, as Joe Girardi will, meaning the Yankees won’t see Verlander again until Game 5. Edge: Even
RELIEF PITCHING — Detroit’s bullpen has made strides this season, with Joaquin Benoit and Al Alburquerque setting up closer Jose Valverde, who was 49-for-49 in save opportunities this season. Still, until Mariano Rivera proves otherwise, almost any bullpen with him in it has the upper hand, especially when set up by David Robertson. Edge: Yankees
BENCH — The Tigers aren’t as deep as they once were because of injuries to Carlos Guillen and Brennan Boesch, but they are versatile. Leyland uses platoons freely, meaning the Tigers’ bench players one day could be in the lineup the next. The Yankees have a veteran presence on the bench, with Jorge Posada, Andruw Jones and Chavez, depending on who’s starting. Edge: Yankees
MANAGER — Both managers have been in the postseason plenty of times and won there. Jim Leyland guided the Marlins to a World Series title in 1997, while Joe Girardi did the same with the Yankees two years ago. Edge: Even
INTANGIBLES — Having the best pitcher in the game is perhaps the most valuable intangible to have this time of year and the Tigers have it in Verlander, but Sabathia isn’t far off, and the Yankees have home field advantage and Rivera. Edge: Even