Justin Verlander Will Start For Tigers On Opening Day
By Ashley Scoby
@AshleyScoby
The Tigers' pitchers and catchers won't have their first official workout until later this week. But the team has already decided who will start on Opening Day, according to reporters at Detroit's spring training in Lakeland, Florida.
The Tigers open up the 2016 season at Miami on Tuesday, April 5. Their home opener will come later that week, against the Yankees on Friday afternoon.
Verlander has said previously he feels healthier now than he has in years. He was doing physical therapy for a large portion of spring training last year, then injured his triceps and missed two months of the 2015 season. Once he got back to his normal form last season, Verlander finished the year with a 3.38 ERA in 20 starts, allowing 13 home runs and 32 walks and striking out 113.
Barring anything crazy, this year will be Verlander's eighth Opening Day start. He has a 2-1 record attached to those starts, although the team itself has gone 4-3 in those games. Of Verlander's seven Opening Day starts, four have been on the road, as this year's will be.
Behind Verlander, the rest of the Tigers' pitching staff will start to form as they get deeper into spring training. Manager Brad Ausmus mentioned several names who could throw themselves into the open fifth spot.
The Marlins - Detroit's Opening Day opponent - went 71-91 last season and finished third in the NL East.
