World Series scouting report: Detroit Tigers USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale and scouts* from the American League and National League break down the World Series. FROM USA TODAY TIGERS SCOUTING REPORT MORE WORLD SERIES COVERAGE CARDINALS SCOUTING REPORT PREDICTION Prediction The Detroit Tigers' biggest obstacle to a championship will be keeping a straight face. The Tigers in three. (OK, make it four.) Scout's take: "To me, the National League doesn't have a prayer. The Tigers are hot, exquisitely managed and have the home-field advantage.

"The biggest thing to me is the adjustment they made in the last month. They were a free-swinging, hacking club, striking out and not walking. But all of a sudden they're a much more patient team." FIRST BASE

Reuters Analysis: The Tigers are a bit unsettled at first base. If Sean Casey has proved he can play with his torn left calf muscle, he will be the starter against right-handers. If Casey can't go, shortstop Carlos Guillen will get the nod. Scout's take: "Even if Casey isn't ready, it's not a big loss. He's not going to play against lefties anyway. He is much better against finesse pitching. Casey is swinging much better in the playoffs (.350 with three doubles) than the regular season." SECOND BASE

Reuters Analysis: Placido Polanco is the Mr. October of middle infielders this postseason. He's batting .471 with a .514 on-base percentage. He was the MVP of the ALCS and has hit in all eight of the Tigers' postseason games. Scout's take: "This guy is playing great. He's hot. And he's a winner. He's their David Eckstein. He doesn't run like Eckstein, but he's a catalyst like Eckstein. He's a good contact, hit-and run guy. He'll do all of the little things to win." SHORTSTOP

USA TODAY Analysis: Carlos Guillen is the mainstay of the offense. He'll play shortstop if Casey is in the lineup and if not will slide to first base. He hasn't hit for power in the postseason, but he's batting .367 in the No. 5 hole. Scout's take: "I know Polanco got the MVP award, but in a lot of ways, this guy is the MVP of the playoffs, because he makes the lineup go. He knows how to drive the ball the other way and get guys in. Just a very professional hitter and a clutch hitter." THIRD BASE

Getty Images Analysis: Brandon Inge has scuffled this postseason, batting .222 with two extra-base hits. He has struck out nine times in 27 at-bats but is a dangerous No. 9 hitter. Scout's take: "This guy is an energy player at the bottom of the order. He can hit for power, bunt, field and do a lot of little things. When you're a nine-hole hitter and people have to look at you as a dangerous out, you're a pretty good player." CATCHER

AP Analysis: Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez is playing like a 25-year-old with tremendous energy and almost flawless defense. Even though he's hitting .172 in the postseason, his numbers don't reflect his value in the lineup. Scout's take: "Tigers manager Jim Leyland has done a great job, and it's best exemplified with Pudge. He's turned this guy into a team leader. When you see him bunting and sacrificing and moving runners, it means Pudge has bought into what Leyland is teaching. He can catch a gazillion games, can throw, still has power, but most important, he's a team guy now. He is better situational hitter than he ever was in his career." LEFT FIELD

US Presswire Analysis: Craig Monroe is perhaps the Tigers' most dangerous power hitter, and he has shown it this postseason, batting .300 with three doubles and three homers. Scout's take: "He has sure come a long way, especially hitting breaking balls. Teams used to break-ball him to death. Now he only swings at the balls he can hit. He's got real good power and is a good low-ball hitter. I was surprised the way Oakland pitched him; they pounded him inside and got away with it." CENTER FIELD

AP Analysis: Curtis Granderson has been huge in the postseason, hitting three homers with seven RBI. He has become a more patient hitter, striking out three times in 32 at-bats compared to 174 times during the year. Scout's take: "He's a free-wheeling hacker in the leadoff role, but if Granderson swings at strikes, he's a pretty good player. He's improved an awful lot." RIGHT FIELD

US Presswire Analysis: Magglio Ordonez hit two home runs in Game 4 of the ALCS, including the game-winner. He leads the team with eight RBI in the postseason. Scout's take: "He's a solid clutch hitter, and as a veteran, he knows what he can and cannot do. It's up to Magglio whether he wants to be patient in the World Series. If he's not, they're going to wear him out. If he's patient, he'll be much more of a threat." BENCH

USA TODAY Analysis: The Tigers are expected to use the same bench as in the first two rounds, going with Neifi Perez, Ramon Santiago, Omar Infante, Alexis Gomez, Marcus Thames and Vance Wilson. Leyland has done a masterful job using his bench, particularly in the postseason. Scout's take: "They have real classic utility guys. They've got defensive specialists, guys who can do the little things and power guys like Thames and Gomez." STARTING ROTATION

AP Analysis: The rotation was dominant in the first two rounds, led by 41-year-old Kenny Rogers. He didn't give up a run in 15 innings and likely will be the Game 1 starter followed by Justin Verlander, Nate Robertson and Jeremy Bonderman. Scout's take: "Kenny Rogers is a 30-year-old in a 40-year-old body. He's pitching in much more with his four-seamer and commanding his two-seamer and changeup away very well. And his curveball is the best it's been all year. I think Verlander will be helped by the rest more than anyone on the team. He wore down during the season, but with his first start in the Series, I look for him to be very strong. Robertson is very much underrated. He can throw four pitches for strikes and compete his butt off. Bonderman didn't have a good slider against Oakland, but he has enough velocity to keep you honest." BULLPEN

Getty Images Analysis: The Tigers showed off their bullpen depth by pitching lights-out against the Tigers without flame-throwing Joel Zumaya. And now that he's back ... gulp. Scout's take: "They will turn the game into six innings. They've got everything you could want. Velocity with Zumaya and Fernando Rodney. A veteran closer (Todd Jones) who can throw strike after strike. And two lefties, a finesse guy in Jamie Walker and a power pitcher in Wilfredo Ledezma." WORLD SERIES HISTORY This is the Tigers' 10th appearance in a World Series. They have lost five times, but they claimed championships in four of their past five appearances. Their last Series was in 1984, when they defeated the San Diego Padres in five games. The Tigers lost their first four Series, including three consecutive from 1907-09, despite the presence of Hall of Fame outfielder Ty Cobb. * The scouts requested anonymity because of competitive reasons: