Game 1 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET at Fenway Park. The Tigers will send Anibal Sanchez (14-8, regular season) against Red Sox right-hander Jon Lester (15-8).

Not that the franchises don't have history; they were both in the AL East until the current divisional alignment was made. The teams split six regular-season games, which means nothing. Except there was a 20-4 shellacking the Sox applied in the teams' final meeting at Fenway Park.

Two items to consider. The Tigers have less rest than the Sox, having been extended to five games against the Athletics in a series that ended Thursday. And, the Tigers are the older team, which means their players will be sore. That's particularly important when considering the health of Miguel Cabrera. He has groin and abdomen aches.

A layoff isn't always good, because teams can lose their edge and fall flat in early games of a series. There are enough veterans on the Red Sox to prevent malaise, and starting at home should play to their advantage.

About Cabrera: Last season's Triple Crown winner and MVP hit his first home run since Sept. 17 in Thursday's clincher. That, Tigers GM David Dombrowski told MLive.com, is a good sign. "If you watch closely, you'll see that his power's coming back," Dombrowski said. "He's getting better." Dombrowski also pointed to Cabrera's power in batting practice.

"Two weeks ago, he didn't do that," he said. "So you can see it's coming back gradually."

Johnny Peralta has helped the Tigers' offense since returning from a 50-game suspension, but the team could use more pop. A healthy -- or healthier -- Cabrera is critical.


MEN IN BLUE


Joe West will head the six-man umpire crew that will work the American League Championship Series.

Gerry Davis was named crew chief for the NLCS that began Friday. Both men headed crews in this month's wild-card games. After being behind home play for the series openers they will return for Game 7, if necessary.

MLB announced the crews on Friday. It named Dale Scott, Rob Drake, Dan Iassogna, Ron Kulpa and Alfonso Marquez to work with West.

Davis, whose 116 postseason games are an MLB record, is joined by Ted Barrett, Mark Carlson, Bruce Dreckman, Mike Everitt and Greg Gibson in the NLCS between the Cardinals and Dodgers. Game 1 was Friday in St. Louis.


HURRAH FOR KERSHAW


Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw has won the 2013 Warren Spahn Award.

The award is presented by the Oklahoma City Bricktown Rotary Club and the Jim Thorpe Association to the top left-handed pitcher in the Major Leagues. It's named for Hall of Famer Warren Spahn, whose 363 career wins are the most by a left-hander.

Kershaw is expected to pitch Game 2 of the NLCS.

He went 16-9 in 2013 with 232 strikeouts and a 1.83 ERA. He also won the award in 2011.

Kershaw said in a statement that he's humbled to receive the award. He will be presented with the award during a ceremony in Oklahoma City in January.

Warren Spahn Award winners

1999: Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks

2000: Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks

2001: Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks

2002: Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks

2003: Andy Pettitte, New York Yankees

2004: Johan Santana, Minnesota Twins

2005: Dontrelle Willis, Florida Marlins

2006: Johan Santana, Minnesota Twins

2007: CC Sabathia, Cleveland Indians

2008: CC Sabathia, Cleveland Indians/Milwaukee Brewers

2009: CC Sabathia, New York Yankees

2010: David Price, Tampa Bay Rays

2011: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

2012: Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals


CALL TO ARMS


Behind Game 1 starter Zack Greinke and Kershaw, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has decisions to make for his other two starters against the Cardinals. The biggest problem he faces? Who goes against Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright in Game 3?

Look for Hyun-Jin Ryu to get the call in Monday's game in Los Angeles. While he was terrific during the regular season, Ryu lasted three innings in the NLDS against the Braves.

After that, Mattingly must decide whether to go with Ricky Nolasco in Game 4. Mattingly clearly doesn’t trust Nolasco, SN's Ryan Fagan says, which is why he pushed Kershaw into Game 4 against the Braves.

The Cardinals opened with Joe Kelly and will follow with red-hot phenom Michael Wacha. But their staff is short on proven veteran starters other than Wainwright. Manager Mike Matheny is left to ponder using Lance Lynn, who was shelled by the Pirates, or returning Shelby Miller to his starting assignment.


NO WAY, SAN JOSE


A federal judge on Friday dismissed the city of San Jose's antitrust claims against Major League Baseball, but he allowed the city to pursue allegations of contract interference in connection with the Athletics' stalled relocation plans.

MLB's antitrust exemption prevented many of the claims in San Jose's lawsuit, U.S. District Judge Ronald M. Whyte ruled. The suit, filed in June, accuses MLB of conspiring again the team's proposal to move to a planned ballpark in San Jose, which baseball defines as territory of the rival Giants.

The judge did allow the city to pursue interference claims MLB interfered in its contract with the A's, which involves an option to purchase land for a new ballpark in downtown San Jose.


FRASOR RE-UPS


Reliever Jason Frasor has agreed to a one-year, $1.75 million deal to remain with the Rangers rather than become a free agent.

Frasor, a 36-year-old right-hander, went 4-3 with a 2.57 ERA in 61 appearances in his first season with the Rangers. Opponents hit a career-low .203 against him.

Over his final 41 appearances, Frasor allowed eight earned runs over 35 innings, a 2.06 ERA.

A 10-year major league veteran, Frasor is 30-34 with a 3.67 ERA in 586 career appearances, all in relief.

He agreed to a $1.5 million deal with the Rangers in January after spending nine seasons in Toronto, except for the end of the 2011 season with the White Sox. He received $400,000 in performance bonuses based on games. Frasor's deal was announced Friday.

Contributing: The Associated Press