The Detroit Tigers booked their World Series berth on Thursday, downing the New York Yankees 8-1 to complete a four-game sweep of the American League Championship Series.

Max Scherzer became the latest Detroit pitcher to thwart the Yankees. He didn't surrender a hit until the sixth inning and combined with three relievers on a two-hitter as the Tigers became the first team in 32 years to sweep the Yanks in a post-season series.

Scherzer gave up one run and struck out 10 over 5 1/3 innings. The Tigers reached the World Series for the 11th time and the first time since 2006.

They'll face either San Francisco or St Louis in Major League Baseball's championship showcase.

Not even another lineup change by manager Joe Girardi could ignite the Yankees' sagging offence.

Girardi again benched third baseman Alex Rodriguez, along with slumping Curtis Granderson.

The re-tooled batting order managed just a triple from Eduardo Nunez and an RBI double out of Nick Swisher, both in the sixth inning.

The Yankees scored only six runs and batted only .156 over the four games, their lowest-ever average in a playoff series.

In a game postponed from Wednesday because of rain, Detroit battered Yankees ace CC Sabathia. Jhonny Peralta belted a brace of homers and drove in three runs.

American League triple crown winner Miguel Cabrera and Austin Jackson also hammered.

Sabathia lasted just 3 2/3 innings and surrendered six runs on 11 hits.