The League Championship Series of Poker American League

Game 2 starter: RHP Colby Lewis (12-13, 3.72). The Rangers signed him out of Japan to be an innings-eater, but he's been more than that, posting the fifth-best K/9 IP ratios (8.8) in the AL and conquering his old command demons. But he tends to run up high pitch-counts, so the bullpen will enter the picture. Card: NINE OF DIAMONDS

Game 3 starter: LHP Cliff Lee (12-9, 3.18). Lee is simply the premier October pitcher of his time, going 6-0 with a 1.44 ERA© in seven career postseason starts - including two wins over the Yankees in the 2009 World Series (as a member of the Phillies) and a pair of dominating wins against Tampa Bay in the ALDS. He may be a Yankee in 2011, but for now he is a Yankee-killer. Card: ACE OF HEARTS

2 Game 4 starter: RHP Tommy Hunter (13-4, 3.73). Hunter is the quintessential postseason fourth starter, with a low strikeout rate (4.8 per nine innings), but a knack for keeping his team in the game and frequently coming out on top. The Rays roughed him up a little in Game 4 of the ALDS, but he's still a surer thing than Burnett, his Game 4 counterpart for the Yankees. Card: EIGHT OF SPADES

Closer: RHP Nefali Feliz (2.73 ERA, 40 saves). The flamethrowing Feliz, the likely AL rookie of the year, has filthy stuff, holding opposing hitters to a .516 OPS this season. Despite some command issues against the Rays (three walks in 11/3 innings), his command is usually quite good - though, as with any rookie closer, it is fair to question how he will handle October pressure. Card: JACK OF DIAMONDS

Ace up their sleeve: RHP Darren O'Day. It's no surprise the Rangers called on him four times in the ALDS. The sidearmer is their go-to, shut-down reliever, particularly against right-handers.

PREDICTION: Yankees in six. The Rangers will be hurt by the fact that they can't use Lee until Game 3, and the Yankees, with the deepest and most potent lineup in these playoffs, will finish off the Rangers before Lee can take the mound for a second time.