World Series: Handicapping the Giants-Tigers matchup

DETROIT VS. SAN FRANCISCO

Game 1: Wednesday, 5 p.m.

Detroit (RHP Justin Verlander 17-8, 2.64) at

San Francisco (LHP Barry Zito 15-8, 4.15)

Game 2: Thursday, 5 p.m.

Detroit (RHP Doug Fister 10-10, 3.45) at

San Francisco (Madison Bumgarner, 16-11, 3.37)w

Game 3: Saturday, 5 p.m.

San Francisco (RHP Ryan Vogelsong 14-9, 3.37) at

Detroit (RHP Anibal Sanchez 4-6, 3.74)

Game 4: Sunday, 5 p.m.

San Francisco (RHP Matt Cain 16-5, 2.79) at

Detroit (RHP Max Scherzer 16-7, 3.74)

Game 5*: Monday, 5 p.m.

San Francisco (TBA) at Detroit (TBA)

Game 6*: Oct. 31, 5 p.m.

Detroit (TBA) at San Francisco (TBA)

Game 7*: Nov. 1, 5 p.m.

Detroit (TBA) at San Francisco (TBA)

*If necessary / All times PDT / TV: Fox

San Francisco Projected Lineup

Pos; Player; Avg.; HR; RBI

CF; Angel Pagan; .288; 8; 56

2B; Marco Scutaro; .306; 7; 74

3B; Pablo Sandoval; .283; 12; 63

C; Buster Posey; .336; 24; 103

RF; Hunter Pence; .253; 24; 104

1B; Brandon Belt; .275; 7; 56

LF; Gregor Blanco; .244; 5; 34

SS; Brandon Crawford; .248; 4; 45

DH; **Aubrey Huff; .192; 1; 7

Detroit Projected Lineup

Pos; Player; Avg.; HR; RBI

CF; Austin Jackson; .300; 16; 66

LF; Quintin Berry; .258; 2; 29

3B; Miguel Cabrera; .330; 44; 139

1B; Prince Fielder; .313; 30; 108

RF; Andy Dirks; .322; 8; 35

SS; Jhonny Peralta; .239; 13; 63

C; Alex Avila; .243; 9; 48

2B; Omar Infante; .257; 4; 20

DH; **Delmon Young; .267; 18; 74

Note: Statistics are for regular season.

**A designated hitter will be used for games 3-5 in Detroit.

Keys to the series

The well-rested Tigers, having swept the New York Yankees in the ALCS, look to pounce early behind ace Justin Verlander, who is 3-0 with an 0.74 earned-run average in the postseason. Triple crown winner Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder, with a combined 74 regular-season home runs, anchor Detroit’s offense. The designated hitter will be used at Detroit’s Comerica Park, and the Tigers’ DH is Delmon Young, the ALCS most valuable player (.353 with six RBIs). Left-hander Phil Coke has stepped up as a secondary closer for the faltering Jose Valverde as the Tigers seek their first title in 28 years. San Francisco had to endure seven games to get past the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS, but the Giants have momentum from having just won three consecutive games, plus home-field advantage, a deep starting rotation led by Matt Cain and stout relief pitching led by Sergio Romo, who did not allow an earned run in closing four games against St. Louis. They also have Marco Scutaro, the NLCS most valuable player (14 for 28 against St. Louis), followed by power hitters Pablo Sandoval and Buster Posey.

Pick: Giants in six.