If Verlander continues to pitch as he has, Detroit looks unbeatable. Photo unknown via rumorsandrants.com
The post-season goes on, despite yesterday’s debacle. Here’s a look at the probable starter matchups for the ALCS and NLCS:
| Series | GM# | Date/time (EST) | Home-Visitor | Home Starter | Visiting Starter | Advantage |
| ALCS | 1 | 10/13/2012 | Det-NYY | Pettitte | Fister | Tossup |
| ALCS | 2 | 10/14/2012 | Det-NYY | Phelps? | Sanchez | Tossup |
| ALCS | 3 | 10/16/2012 | NYY-Det | Verlander | Sabathia | Det |
| ALCS | 4 | 10/17/2012 | NYY-Det | Scherzer | Kuroda? | Det |
| ALCS | 5 | 10/18/2012 | NYY-Det | Fister | Pettitte | Det |
| ALCS | 6 | 10/20/2012 | Det-NYY | Hughes? | Sanchez | Tossup |
| ALCS | 7 | 10/21/2012 | Det-NYY | Sabathia | Verlander | Det |
The Tigers have a huge advantage heading into this series by virtue of scheduling; they finished up their ALDS a day early, thus they get to schedule their ace Justin Verlander on normal rest to go in games 3 and 7. Meanwhile the Yankees have a major conundrum; in order to get CC Sabathia two starts in the NLCS he has to go on 3-days rest for game 3. And, in order to get Hiroki Kuroda 2 starts, he must similarly go on 3-days rest for game 2. Kuroda is a japanese import, where he pitched just once a week (6 days rest as a norm) and has little experience going on short rest. Sabathia actually has fantastic career numbers on 3-days rest (a 1.01 ERA for his career in the regular season, albeit in just 4 such starts). However Sabathia’s effect is likely to be nullified by going against Verlander, in Detroit. Meanwhile, who goes in game 2? David Phelps? Phil Hughes? I don’t think the Yankees have any good options there. I honestly don’t see a single one of these 7 matchups that i’d immediately say favors New York; I think Detroit can get the split in the first two games and may wrap the series up before it even returns. Detroit in 5.
| Series | GM# | Date/time (EST) | Home-Visitor | Home Starter | Visiting Starter | Advantage |
| NLCS | 1 | 10/14/2012 | SF-Stl | Bumgarner | Lynn | SF |
| NLCS | 2 | 10/15/2012 | SF-Stl | Vogelsong | Carpenter | Stl |
| NLCS | 3 | 10/17/2012 | Stl-SF | Wainwright | Cain | SF |
| NLCS | 4 | 10/18/2012 | Stl-SF | Lohse | Lincecum? | Stl |
| NLCS | 5 | 10/19/2012 | Stl-SF | Lynn | Bumgarner | Tossup |
| NLCS | 6 | 10/21/2012 | SF-Stl | Carpenter | Vogelsong | Stl |
| NLCS | 7 | 10/22/2012 | SF-Stl | Wainwright | Cain | Tossup |
The NLCS pitching matchups are a lot more clear; Jaime Garcia is replaced by the 18 game barely-not-a-rookie Lance Lynn and may actually fare better. Chris Carpenter was effective enough and I believe gives the Cardinals a distinct advantage in both his starts over the journeyman Ryan Vogelsong. The two aces look to match up in games 3 and 7; I’ll give Cain the advantage at home but if the series makes it to game 7, I’m not so sure he’ll be a distinct favorite back in St. Louis. Lastly, which Tim Lincecum shows up in this series? Going against the 16-3 Kyle Lohse is no small feat; he controlled a better hitting team in the Nats and was an unlucky no-decision in game 4. The Cardinals offense can get to the SF starters and very well make this a quicker series than people think. Cardinals in 6 games.