BOSTON - The American League Championship Series, featuring the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers, gets underway on Saturday night at Fenway Park. [url=https://www.cheapwarriors.com/479o-harrison-barnes-jersey-warriors. html]Harrison Barnes Jersey[/url] . Boston is making its first appearance in the

BOSTON - The American League Championship Series, featuring the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers, gets underway on Saturday night at Fenway Park. Harrison Barnes Jersey . Boston is making its first appearance in the ALCS since 2008. For Detroit, its a third straight trip to the ALCS and its fourth in eight years. The Red Sox last won the World Series in 2007, sweeping Colorado. The Tigers were last victorious in 1984, losing their two most recent appearances (2006 vs. St. Louis and 2012 vs. San Francisco.) GAME ONE PREVIEW: PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RHP Anibal Sanchez (Regular season: 14-8, 2.57, 1.154 WHIP; Playoffs: 0-1, 10.38, 2.308 WHIP) Did not face Boston in 2013. Tigers manager Jim Leyland on Sanchez: "He led the American League in earned run average. He did not have a good playoff start. I think he was probably a little rusty, as Fister was the other day, it took him a couple of innings to get going. I think hell be back in the groove now. Like I said, he led this league in earned run average. Thats pretty impressive." Toughest matchup: Few Red Sox have large enough sample sizes vs. Sanchez (Shane Victorino and Stephen Drew, who spent significant time in the National League, are the exceptions.) But, as small sample sizes go, you cant do better than David Ortiz has against Sanchez: 3-3, 2 HR, 1 2B, 4 RBI. Interesting note: Sanchez, a native of Maracay, Venezuela, was signed by the Red Sox as an international free agent on January 3, 2001. He was traded, along with Hanley Ramirez and others, to the Florida Marlins in the deal that brought Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to Boston, on November 24, 2005. Red Sox LHP Jon Lester (Regular season: 15-8, 3.75, 1.294 WHIP; Playoffs: 1-0, 2.35, 0.783 WHIP) 2013 vs. Detroit: (2GS, 2-0, 4.26, 1.579 WHIP, 2HR in 12 2/3 innings) Toughest matchup: A number of Tigers hit Lester well, including: Torii Hunter (30 AB, .433/.469/.633, 1 HR, 3 2B, 4 RBI) Miguel Cabrera (24 AB, .526/.625/.789, 1 HR, 2 2B, 3 RBI) Victor Martinez (14 AB, .429/.500/.786, 1 HR, 1 2B, 3 RBI) Jhonny Peralta (27 AB, .296/.406/.593, 2 HR, 2 2B, 5 RBI, 5 BB) Lester on the Tigers lineup: "I mean, obviously very tough lineup. Weve seen it kind of go both ways as far as them come in and score some runs. But at the same time, the games that they dont theyre still tough outs. I think thats what makes them very similar to I think our offense is. You know youre not going to have three-pitch outs. You know youre not going to have at-bats that they just give away." LINEUP CONSIDERATIONS: Slick-fielding shortstop Jose Iglesias, acquired from the Red Sox in Julys three-team deal (White Sox) that netted Boston the services of Jake Peavy, will start Game One. That means Jhonny Peralta will either start in left field (at Fenway Park - *gulp*) or be relegated to the bench. Beyond Game One, Leyland was non-committal. "At my age I go one day at a time. So Iglesias will be my shortstop (Saturday) night." Meantime, Red Sox manager John Farrell has anointed Will Middlebrooks his starting third baseman but wouldnt look beyond Saturday night. "It will be Middlebrooks (Saturday.) And then based on some matchups, weve got some things were looking at in a couple of different spots." That could mean highly-touted prospect Xander Bogaerts for Game Two or at some other point in the series. INJURY CONCERN: Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera, he of the 2012 Triple Crown, has been limited offensively for about six weeks, his Thursday home run against the Athletics notwithstanding, thanks to a nagging leg injury. Cabreras September: .278/.395/.333, 1 HR. His .729 marked a significant drop month over month. His .995 OPS in April had been his lowest monthly total of the season. In the five game Division Series vs. Oakland: 5-20 (.250/.286/.400,) with his home run in the fifth game accounting for his lone extra base hit. Cabrera didnt want to discuss his injury but described the process of working through it as "day-to-day." GAME ONE PREDICTION: Boston wins 6-4. Phil Smith Jersey . Appearing on TSN 1050 on Tuesday, Sean McAdam of Comcast SportsNet New England reported that the Blue Jays, along with a number of other playoff contenders were in the mix for the Boston ace. Stitched Warriors Jerseys . It was the first game back in Columbus for Rangers star Rick Nash, the Blue Jackets franchise leader in goals, assists and games. He was given a standing ovation during a video tribute in the first period, but was booed loud and long after a second-period, two-handed shove up high on Columbus goalie Sergei Bobrovsky. https://www.cheapwarriors.com/ . Russell Wilson against Darrelle Revis, former teammate Brandon Browner and whatever schemes Bill Belichick dreams up.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Washington Capitals will try to return to the win column when they welcome a former division rival to Verizon Center in Saturdays clash with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Caps and Lightning battled for years in the now defunct Southeast Division before the NHLs realignment plan instituted prior to last season ended the divisional rivalry. Washington is now a member of the Metropolitan Division while the Bolts joined the Atlantic. Saturdays test is the third and final scheduled meeting between the clubs this season. Tampa claimed the first encounter on Nov. 1, notching a 4-3 regulation win on home ice, but Washington answered with Tuesdays 5-3 triumph in Central Florida. Alex Ovechkin scored twice for the Caps in the meeting earlier this week, and now has 37 goals and 37 assists over 56 career games against the Lightning. Washington has won six of eight in this series overall. The Bolts snapped a six-game slide in D.C. with a 1-0 shootout win on April 13 of last season, but the Capitals are 17-2-2 in their last 21 home games against Tampa. The Caps had matched a season-high winning streak with three straight victories before losing an overtime decision Thursday against visiting Columbus. Nick Foligno scored a power-play goal with 18.8 seconds left in the OT to lift the Blue Jackets to the 3-2 win. Jason Chimera was whistled for interference in the extra session, putting the Blue Jackets on the man advantage at the 3:03 mark of OT. After Sergei Bobrovsky made two huge short-handed saves, Jack Johnson dished to Foligno for a one-timer from the right circle. The puck sailed over Braden Holtbys glove for the win. Sarunas Marciulionis Jersey. Holtby stopped 20-of-23 shots and was outplayed by Bobrovsky, who needed to make 39 saves for the win. We created chances. We had a lot of traffic in front of them and (Bobrovsky) was still able to make saves, said Capitals defenseman Mike Green, who returned to the lineup after missing seven games with an upper-body injury. Justin Peters could get the call in net tonight. He is 0-3-1 with a 4.20 goals against average in his career against Tampa. Holtby is 4-2-1 with a 3.41 GAA in this matchup. Tampa halted a two-game slide its last time out by beating the visiting Carolina Hurricanes in dramatic fashion. Nikita Kucherovs marker with 30.3 seconds left in regulation broke a tie and delivered a 2-1 victory for the hosts. Kucherovs second goal of the contest was a fluke deflection. He appeared to attempt a pass from the left circle, but the puck instead changed direction off the skate of Hurricanes defenseman Ron Hainsey in the slot and slid over the goal line. Evgeni Nabokov turned away 29 pucks and picked up his first assist of the season for the Lightning. The win pushed the backup goaltenders record this season to 3-3-1. It was nice to see him get rewarded, Lightning captain Steven Stamkos said of Nabokov. He played great and gave us a chance to win. Ben Bishop expects to be back in net tonight. He is 1-3-1 with a lifetime 4.13 GAA against Washington. Ondrej Palat, who was a late scratch from Thursdays game against Carolina, is questionable for tonights game due to a lower-body injury. The forward has eight goals and 11 assists this season. ' ' '