Through two games in the league championships, the Detroit Tigers have a 2-0 lead on the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals are tied 1-1.

The Tigers have dominated the Yankees in both games. Starting pitchers Doug Fister and Anibal Sanchez both shut down the powerful offense of the Yankees.  The Yankees had a chance to win Game One after Raul Ibanez and Ichiro miraculously hit two run home runs to save the day.

Tigers closer Jose Valverde has since struggled in the last two games, which is contrary to his reputation as one of the league’s best. The Tigers have a chance to make this series a quick one and they seem very likely to go to the World Series for the first time since 2006.

Pitching ace Justin Verlander will pitch Game Three and will give the Yankees some serious trouble after coming off a complete game shut-out against the Oakland A’s in Game Five of the ALDS.

The Giants have had a tough time winning at home, but on Monday the got their first home win of the playoffs by beating the Cardinals 7-1.  Ryan Vogelsong was stellar and he became the first Giants pitcher to pitch into the sixth inning in the playoffs this year.

The series heads back to St. Louis and the Giants have been really good on the road.  The Giants’ only lost one road series in the entire second half of the season.  The Giants desperately need to win at least two games in St. Louis if the want to win the series.  If Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum pitch well on the road, the Giants will be in good shape.

Offensively, the Giants are piecing things together. Second baseman Marco Scutaro has followed up on his spectacular season with the Giants by hitting a three-run double in Game Two. Role players, Gregor Blanco, Angel Pagan, and Brandon Crawford have been on a tear as of late and their success will determine how the Giants fare going down the stretch.

The greatest weapon the Giants have is their bullpen. Strengthened by Lincecum, the two-time Cy Young winner, the Giants’ bullpen tossed five scoreless innings in Game One. In postseason play, Lincecum has pitched 8.1innings while allowing only one run. Lefty Jeremy Affeldt and righties Santiago Casilla and Sergio Romo round up the stellar bullpen.