Opening Day 2009 start up for grabs

02/21/09 8:19 PM EST
Opening Day start up for grabs
Leyland mulling options with interesting schedule in effect

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Spring Training usually doesn't last long before the question comes up about the Opening Day starter. Tigers manager Jim Leyland hasn't finalized his answer yet.

The Tigers are in a unique situation among Major League teams. Not only do they open on the road, but they open with a four-game, four-day series at Toronto before heading to Detroit. That means they'll have gone through the first four spots in their rotation before they open their home schedule against the Rangers on April 10.

Does that mean the Tigers' fifth starter will start their first home game? Not necessarily, Leyland cautioned.

That fifth spot is currently open to competition among starters in camp that include Dontrelle Willis, Nate Robertson, Zach Miner and Rick Porcello. The other four rotation slots are filled by Justin Verlander, Armando Galarraga, Jeremy Bonderman and Edwin Jackson.

Leyland emphasized that he'd feel comfortable starting any of those four on Opening Day or the home opener. But he said he's trying to think about the best way to go.

"It's a happening," Leyland said of the home opener. "It's a very special day. It seems like it's a beautiful day whether the weather's good or not. But in this case, we've got four games before that."

Verlander started Opening Day last year at home against the Royals. Bonderman started on Opening Day in 2005 and '07, both times at home. The Tigers have opened their season on the road just twice over the previous six seasons. Kenny Rogers pitched at Kansas City to start the 2006 season, and Jason Johnson outpitched Roy Halladay at Toronto on Opening Day in '04.

Whoever opens the 2009 season for the Tigers will likely have to pitch opposite Halladay as well.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Zach Miner for the home opener?

I'm guessing Verlander or Gala.

02/22/09 4:03 PM EST
Verlander scheduled for spring opener
Right-hander to start Wednesday, throw no more than two innings

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

LAKELAND, Fla. --Justin Verlander is expected to start the Tigers' Spring Training opener on Wednesday. Whether he'll have the same assignment when the regular season begins is yet to be announced, but it puts him on track.

Manager Jim Leyland had said over the last day or two that Verlander would pitch Wednesday against the Braves at Joker Marchant Stadium, as will others in his pitching group that threw their live batting practice sessions Thursday and Sunday. Leyland said on Sunday that Verlander would likely make the start.

Verlander will pitch no more than two innings Wednesday, even if they're quick ones. If he comes in under his pitch count, he'll throw his remaining pitches in the bullpen.

Leyland has not yet announced an Opening Day starter, but he said over the last couple days that he and pitching coach Rick Knapp would have to plot out a Spring Training pitching schedule that would put their set starters on track to pitch their respective days in the season's opening week. If Verlander were to pitch every five days starting Wednesday, the April 6 season opener at Toronto would fall on one of those days.

One possible hitch to that is the increased number of off-days in this year's Spring Training schedule. One of those off-days falls on March 12, which would fall on Verlander's pitching schedule. It doesn't present a major obstacle, but the Tigers would have to either use Verlander in a Minor League game or set up a simulated game with Tigers Minor Leaguers for Verlander to face.

Leyland has not announced his starters beyond Wednesday. For what it's worth, Edwin Jackson and Nate Robertson both are slated to pitch their second round of live batting practice Monday, which could put them on track for Thursday's game against the Nationals at Viera, Fla. However, the Tigers also have to figure out where to slot Zach Miner, who is a starting candidate, but threw his second live BP session Sunday.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.