BALTIMORE — October has arrived as the Orioles welcomed the Detroit Tigers to Oriole Park at Camden Yards for Game 1 of the American League Division Series.
There were no real surprises for Baltimore’s Game 1 lineup as Ryan Flaherty was slotted to hit seventh at third base as most assumed after manager Buck Showalter used a carousel of candidates at third base over the final two weeks of the regular season. Showalter was noncommittal when asked how reserves and fellow third-base candidates Kelly Johnson and Jimmy Paredes would be used in the series, leaving the door open to either receiving a start at the hot corner.
The Orioles will send Wei-Yin Chen to the hill in Game 2 against right-hander Justin Verlander. Chen pitched Game 2 of the 2012 ALDS against the New York Yankees, earning the win after allowing just one earned run in 6 1/3 innings.
Asked why he elected to keep right-handed pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez in his bullpen, Showalter pointed to his experience against the Tigers as well as the Detroit lineup’s strong .285 average against left-handed pitching this year. Left-handers Brian Matusz and T.J. McFarland were left off the ALDS roster earlier in the day, but both will remain with the club in the event of an injury and would be options if the Orioles advance to the AL Championship Series.
Right fielder Nick Markakis will make his postseason debut Thursday night after nine seasons with the Orioles. He was sidelined with a broken thumb when Baltimore advanced to the 2012 playoffs.
Meanwhile, the Tigers had center fielder Rajai Davis in the Game 1 lineup despite the fact that he’s been dealing with a groin injury recently. His 36 stolen bases were only eight fewer than the Orioles stole collectively during the 2014 regular season.
Here are Thursday night’s lineups:
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DETROIT
2B Ian Kinsler
RF Torii Hunter
1B Miguel Cabrera
DH Victor Martinez
LF J.D. Martinez
C Alex Avila
3B Nick Castellanos
SS Andrew Romine
CF Rajai Davis
SP Max Scherzer (18-5, 3.15 ERA)
BALTIMORE
RF Nick Markakis
LF Alejandro De Aza
CF Adam Jones
DH Nelson Cruz
1B Steve Pearce
SS J.J. Hardy
3B Ryan Flaherty
C Nick Hundley
2B Jonathan Schoop
SP Chris Tillman (13-6, 3.34 ERA)
