ALDS Game 4 Preview: Backs Against the Wall

Well, it's now or never. The ball goes to A.J. Burnett tonight with the Yankees just one game away from elimination. The story on A.J. has been beaten to death, so why bother adding to it at this point? It's a new season, and he has all the power now. He can change the way Yankees fans will view him with a winning effort tonight.

Do you have faith in A.J. Burnett?

Opposing him will be Rick Porcello, the Tigers' first round pick in 2007 and a New Jersey native like myself, who has turned in quality starts in his last five outings. Keep in mind, none of those starts came against teams with good offenses. Hopefully Porcello with suffer from the Doug Fister effect, who also faced anemic offenses leading up to the playoffs.

For his career, Porcello is 2-2 with a 5.56 ERA in 22 2/3 IP against the Yankees. Let's hope the Yankees can get to him early, give Burnett a lead, and get this series back to New York for game five.

Lineups: 

Yankees - Jeter 6, Grandy 8, Cano 4, A-Rod 5, Tex 3, Swish 9, Posada DH, Martin 2, GGBG 7

Tigers - A-Jax 8, Santiago 4, Young 7, Cabrera 3, V-Mart DH, Kelly 9, Peralta 6, Avila 2, Betemit 5

Also, feel free to use this as an open thread for the day's baseball action.

Look for the game thread at 8:15.