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A.L. division series glance: Tigers vs. A’s

Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera became the major leagues’ first Triple Crown winner since 1967. (Associated Press)
Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera became the major leagues’ first Triple Crown winner since 1967. (Associated Press)

Tonight’s Game 1: Oakland (Parker 13-8, 3.47 ERA, 140 K)

at Detroit (Verlander 17-8, 2.64 ERA, 239 K), 3:07 p.m. ( TV: TBS)

Last meeting: The A’s were swept by Detroit in the 2006 ALCS, ending their last playoff trip. Detroit won the pennant on a home run by Magglio Ordonez.

This season: The teams split a four-game series in Oakland in May, and Detroit won two of three at home in September.

A’s big picture: This was supposed to be a rebuilding year in Oakland after the team began with the lowest opening-day payroll in the majors at $53 million. Instead, manager Bob Melvin led a collection of rookies and misfits to the franchise’s first playoff berth since 2006. … After a rocky start, Oakland (94-68) has a major league-best 72-38 record since June 2. … Oakland finished the season with five rookie starters and the 54 wins from rookies are the most ever for a playoff team.

Tigers’ big picture: It wasn’t as easy as many expected, but Detroit (88-74) finally wrested the A.L. Central title away from the fading Chicago White Sox down the stretch to reach the postseason in consecutive years for the first time since 1934-35. … Detroit finished sixth in the A.L. in runs. The Tigers were 10th in homers – with Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder accounting for more than 45 percent of the team’s total of 163. … The Tigers lost to Texas in the 2011 A.L. championship series.