The most intriguing matchups of the division series:
1. Justin Verlander and Gio Gonzalez versus the first innings
Verlander and Gonzalez may well turn out to be the Cy Young winners in their respective leagues for their work in 2012, just one thing they have in common. They both have overpowering stuff, and each of them is a high-energy, caffeinated personality -- they talk fast, they think fast. It's a part of what drives them.
But this trait also can be problematic, especially in the very early stages of big games, because their frenetic nature can become an issue as they try to maintain control of the baseball. Roger Clemens had the exact same issue in his career: In the postseason, he tended to overthrow and struggle with his command in the early innings. Verlander started the All-Star Game this year and got hammered, after having mixed results in the postseason last year.
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