DETROIT -- The Oakland Athletics dropped the first game of the American League Division Series against the Detroit Tigers. If they are going to even up the series they will need to capitalize on some key match ups. A's Key MatchupsCoco Crisp vs. Doug Fister: Crisp is 6 for 12 (.500) in his career against Fister. He got the game started with a home run on Saturday. He will again need to serve as the A's spark. A's Bullpen: The A's big three relievers, Grant Balfour, Ryan Cook, and Sean Doolittle are all well rested. They all haven't seen game action in three days. If the A's can get a late lead expect them to be used liberally.
Tigers Key MatchupsRest vs. The A's: This early game is more difficult on the A's body clocks. Jonny Gomes seemed a bit peeved about how early the team had to wake up for the game."I guess, what, about a 6:05 and 5:05 bus, if you do the time change," Gomes said. "So 5:05 bus, 4:30 a.m. alarm, it's tough to call that a home field advantage.""But lucky we're so young and don't know any different," Gomes added. "Go with that." W's in the D: The Tigers have won the last five playoff games against the A's. They took Game One on Saturday, and swept the A's in four games in the 2006 American League Championship Series. Avisail Garcia vs. Tommy Milone: Garcia is 2 for 2 in his career against Tommy Milone. In Game One the A's held Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder hitless; it was the other players that contributed.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.