The Boston Red Sox play the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday in Game 3 of their AL championship series. The game starts at 4 p.m. ET. Listen to the live radio broadcast HERE.
After Boston's memorable comeback on Sunday, the ALCS is split 1-1. David Ortiz homered a game-tying grand slam in the eighth inning; Boston eventually won in the ninth inning, 6-5.
"I think we certainly gained some confidence in the last couple innings," said Boston manager John Farrell, via ESPN. "The work of Sanchez and Scherzer has been nothing short of spectacular. ... We feel like tomorrow's starter in Verlander is going to be a similar, if not a more difficult, challenge than what we faced already."
Ortiz's homer excluded, the Red Sox have struggled on offense against the Tigers. It's unlikely to get any easier for them on Tuesday when they face Detroit ace Justin Verlander, who can keep the momentum from turning in Boston's favor by winning on Tuesday.
"Obviously that was a tough one," said Verlander of the loss on Sunday. "At the same you know this series is going to be a dogfight. Nobody is going to walk over anybody."
Detroit's strength is its pitching rotation, which Verlander readily admitted.
"We've got a starting rotation that's relentless, and I said that before the series started. Every guy has their unique ability to shut down a team in their own way," he said. "I'm just one of the four guys right now."
John Lackey will be asked by Boston to duel with Verlander. After undergoing elbow surgery and missing the entire 2012 season to recover, Lackey has provided solid pitching for the Red Sox; he went 10-13 with a 3.52 ERA in 29 starts, according to ESPN.
Despite their batting woes, Lackey is confident his team will be able to provide him with run support.
"We've got a great lineup. I'm going into the game with a great group of guys behind me," said Lackey. "Those guys are going to fight (Verlander). He's kind of our lineup's problem. I've got my own problems with their lineup."
