MLB

Tigers’ Cabrera poised to break out

DETROIT — So far this series, Miguel Cabrera hasn’t had any huge games. Or huge hits. But in his last two at-bats in Game 2, the Tigers superstar smacked a pair of singles, prompting manager Jim Leyland to say he “thought Miggy came alive pretty good.”

The question now is how alive Cabrera is about to become. The American League Triple Crown winner has had a pedestrian postseason (8-for-28, two doubles, no homers, two RBIs, three walks) and a solid but unspectacular two-game ALCS against the Yankees (3-for-8, no extra-base hits, one RBI, two walks).

Is Cabrera preparing to explode in tonight’s Game 3?

“First of all, I think it is a fantastic sign that we have been able to win these ballgames without him having the type of games that we are accustomed to him having,” Justin Verlander said yesterday. “And I think that attributes, one, to the way teams have been pitching him. They are not giving him a lot to hit. They are trying to not make mistakes against him and not let him hurt them.

“But with his talent, he’s going to have those games. And it’s great to know that one day he’s going to break out in a big way. Not that he hadn’t [in Game 2]. He had big hits for us. But we are winning these ballgames without three, four RBIs. It is a team effort.”

Cabrera was held in check in last year’s ALDS, going 3-for-15 (.200) with a homer and five walks against the Yankees, but then this year during the regular season he annihilated the Yankees, batting 12-for-39 (.308) with five homers, four doubles and 11 RBIs.

Cabrera could also benefit if Prince Fielder starts hitting. The slugging first baseman who hits fourth in the lineup behind Cabrera is 2-for-9 with a walk in the ALCS, but if Fielder starts producing, Cabrera might see better pitches.

Dating back to the regular season, Cabrera hasn’t homered in his last 35 at-bats. Leyland, however, thinks his star is coming alive. The man who won the Triple Crown could be poised to get going.