Dusty Baker and Felipe Alou are out in Chicago and San Francisco. No thanks to both.
Oakland at Minnesota - Game 1, ESPN, 1:05
Barry Zito, LH (16-10, 3.83) v. Johan Santana, LH (19-6, 2.77)
Zito on the road: 10-3, 2.97
Santana at home: 12-0, 2.19
That's right: Santana has not lost a game at the Metrodome all season. On the other hand, Zito has been excellent on the road, so this should be a tight one.
St. Louis at San Diego - Game 1, ESPN, 4:05
Chris Carpenter, RH (15-8, 3.09) v. Jake Peavy, RH (11-14, 4.09)
Carpenter on the road: 7-4, 4.70
Peavy at home: 6-7, 3.75
Carpenter faced the Padres one time this year and got a little beaten up, going seven innings but giving up 12 hits and six earned runs. Peavy faced the Cardinals once and didn't fare any better: 5 IP, 9 H, 6 ER. I picked the Padres, but I don't think I really see it happening. One of these teams has Albert Pujols and one of them doesn't.
Detroit at NY Yankees - Game 1, FOX, 8:05
Nate Robertson, LH (13-13, 3.84) v. Chien-Ming Wang, RH (19-6, 3.63)
Robertson on the road: 6-5, 3.47
Wang at home: 11-3, 3.03
The Tigers haven't been in the playoffs since 1987, when Alan Trammell had a huge season (.343/.402/.551 with 28 HR, 105 RBI). Let's put it this way: The last time Detroit was in the playoffs, they were trading a young John Smoltz for Doyle Alexander, Darrell Evans was on the team, Matt Nokes was looking like the second coming of Carlton Fisk at the plate, and Kirk Gibson was going 20-20. Hell, Trammell has managed the Tigers and been fired since then, and there was a big gap between THOSE happenings. Congrats to the Tigers. Try not to get steamrolled.