Rangers, Tigers line up rotations

Updated: October 8, 2011, 12:32 PM ET
By Richard Durrett | ESPNDallas.com

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The pitching rotations for the AL Championship Series came into clearer view Friday.

Derek Holland will start Game 2 for the Texas Rangers, manager Ron Washington confirmed. C.J. Wilson is starting Game 1 on Saturday night in Arlington.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland said that Justin Verlander will start Game 1 with Max Scherzer, orginally tabbed for the fourth game, going up against Holland in Game 2. Doug Fister will pitch Game 3 and Rick Porcello will now go in Game 4 instead of Sunday.

Leyland's plan is to pitch Verlander again in Game 5. The rotation switch allows the Tigers to use Scherzer and then Fister for Games 6 and 7.

Colby Lewis will start Game 3 and Matt Harrison in Game 4 for the Rangers.

Holland, who was 16-5 with a 3.95 ERA in the regular season, gave up three runs (one earned because of a throwing error by Holland) in 6 1/3 innings in Game 2 of the ALDS.

"I like C.J. and Holland back to back," Washington said. "That's what I did in the first round and it worked. So I'm going to stick with it."

Washington said he had "no qualms about Colby pitching anywhere," but Lewis' road splits have been much better than at home (ERA is more than two runs better away from Arlington).

"There's something to be said for his experience," Washington said.

The Tigers have all right-handed pitching, so the Rangers plan on going with David Murphy in left field with Josh Hamilton in center and Nelson Cruz in right. Michael Young will be the designated hitter and bat cleanup and Mitch Moreland will start at first base. Washington said that could change and that Endy Chavez could get some time in games late.

Richard Durrett covers the Rangers for ESPNDallas.com.

Richard Durrett joined ESPNDallas.com in September 2009. He writes about colleges, the Dallas Stars and the Texas Rangers. Richard spent nine years at The Dallas Morning News covering the Rangers, Stars, colleges, motorsports and high schools.

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