Who Are The Red Sox Hoping To See In The ALCS?

Tonight is Game 5 of the ALDS between the A's and Tigers.  Whichever team wins this game will face the Red Sox in the ALCS.  It was announced yesterday that Game 1 of the ALCS will be Saturday at 7:30 PM Eastern on FOX, and Game 2 will be at 8:00 PM Eastern Sunday on FOX.  Lester was announced the Game 1 starter, and the rest of the rotation is yet to be determined.

Who would the Red Sox rather see in the ALCS?

The A's finished the season 96-66, with one less win than the Red Sox.  In head-to-head play, the Red

Photo from The Boston Globe

Sox and A's split 3-3.  Bartolo Colon was the A's best pitcher with a 18-6 record and a 2.65 ERA.  Offensively, the A's are lead by Josh Donaldson with a .301 batting average, 24 home runs, and 93 RBIs.  The A's also have Yoenis Cespedes and former Red Sox players Josh Reddick, Jed Lowrie, and Coco Crips.

The Tiger's finished the regular season 93-69.  In head-to-head play, they won the series 4-3.  The Tiger's pitching staff is lead by Cy Young favorite Max Scherzer who was 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA, but they also have Justin Verlander (13-12, 3.46 ERA), Anibal Sanchez (14-8, 2.57 ERA), and Doug Fisher (14-9, 3.67 ERA).  Offensively, reigning MVP Miguel Cabrera (.348 BA, 44 HRs, 137 RBIs), Victor Martinez, Torri Hunter, and Prince Fielder.

Personally, I'd rather the Red Sox play the A's.  It may just be history, but the A's have never seemed like much of a threat to the Red Sox.  Though, those West Coast trips always usually cost the Red Sox every season.  The stats, however, seem to favor the A's.

When you look closer at the A's, they're dangerous.  The A's team ERA is 3.56, compared to the Red Sox's 3.79 ERA.  Offensively, the A's team batting average is .254, while the Red Sox is .277.  The A's hit 186 home runs and scored 767 runs, and the Red Sox hit 178 home runs and scored 853 runs.

The Tigers always seem dangerous to me both with their pitching and their offense.  I would like to think that the Tigers' rotation is helped a great deal by a weaker AL Central division (compared to the AL East), but they had to play more teams than the Astros and Twins.  Miguel Cabrera, who won the Triple-Crown last year, is always dangerous to face.

The Tigers team ERA is 3.61.  Their team batting average is .283, and they hit 176 home runs and scored 796 runs.

The Red Sox seem to have the advantage in doubles with 363 (compared to the A's 301 and Tigers' 292), walks with 583 (compared to the A's 573 and Tigers' 531), and stolen bases with 123 (compared to the A's 74 and 35).  In regards to the stolen bases, Ellsbury snagged 52 bags alone.  (Ortiz was 5th on the team in stolen bases with 4.)

So, who would I rather see face the Red Sox?  I'm still saying A's.  I believe pitching win the playoffs, and the Tigers rotation was better during the season.  The Tigers also have more power, lead by Miguel Cabrera.  That's just my opinion though, since the A's are equally as dangerous.

Photo from CBS Detroit