The lineups for Game 1 of the ALCS between the Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers have been released (well, actually just the Tigers' lineup at the moment).
1. Austin Jackson - CF
2. Ryan Raburn -- LF
3. Miguel Cabrera -- 1B
4. Victor Martinez -- DH
5. Magglio Ordonez -- RF
6. Alex Avila -- C
7. Jhonny Peralta -- SS
8. Ramon Santiago -- 2B
9. Brandon Inge -- 3B
And doing the pitching for the Tigers, the ace, Justin Verlander.
As many will probably notice and comment on, Miguel Cabrera has been moved up to the three hole with Delmon Young out of the lineup. This should make the many fans who have wanted Cabrera to hit third all year happy, but the clamoring is a bit overblown, especially when you consider the never-failing #STATS -- Cabrera is a career .305/.386/.924 three hitter compared to a .331/.410/.990 career line as a four hitter.
In Cabrera's career he murders Rangers pitching to the tune of .371/.411/1.023 in 42 games. Cabrera is just 1-for-4 with a walk off of tonight's starter C.J. Wilson.
Here is the Rangers' lineup:
1. Ian Kinsler -- 2B
2. Elvis Andrus -- SS
3. Josh Hamilton -- CF
4. Michael Young -- DH
5. Adrian Beltre-- 3B
6. Mike Napoli -- C
7. Nelson Cruz -- RF
8. David Murphy -- LF
9. Mitch Moreland -- 1B