The Detroit Tigers play the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday in Game 1 of the 2014 AL Division Series. The game starts at 5:37 p.m. ET. Watch the live stream or listen to the radio broadcast below.
Detroit's staunch pitching rotation makes them the favorite to advance to the championship series. Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer (18-5, 3.15 ERA) starts on Thursday, followed by Justin Verlander (15-12, 4.54) and David Price (15-12, 3.26), pitting Baltimore against the last three AL Cy Young winners.
"Pitching. That's what wins ballgames," Price told reporters, via ESPN. "If we put up zeroes early, that kind of gives our offense a chance to kind of settle into the game. They know they don't have to put up a three- or four-spot because we're down."
The pitching advantage, at least on paper, goes to Detroit. But one concern Tigers manager Brad Ausmus has is Baltimore's bullpen, if the game is tight down the stretch.
"(Zach) Britton has really established himself since we last saw Baltimore. He's one of the best closers in the game," said Ausmus. "They acquired Andrew Miller, who obviously had a track record coming in. And now you've got a closer who can pitch the sixth or seventh inning. That's not a bad position to be in if you're the Orioles. Their bullpen has done a good job, and that's part of the reason they've been so successful."
In addition to a strong bullpen, Baltimore has a lineup that led the majors with 211 home runs.
"A team that swings the bat like that, they're dangerous," Scherzer said. "They're dangerous one through nine. That's something I know going into the start. They need to have a good game plan against me and I need to have a good game plan against them."
Scherzer will be opposed by Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman (13-6, 3.34).
Watch the live stream HERE, or listen to the radio broadcast HERE (DET) and HERE (BAL).
