DETROIT – Five days before the start of the season, Detroit Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire finally made it official: Matthew Boyd will be the opener for the club’s opening day on July 24 in Cincinnati.
The designation came as no surprise to anyone, let alone Boyd, who was first told that he would have Opening Day honors in early March.
“It’s flattering,” said Boyd. “It is an honor. It is something I do not take lightly.”
Boyd will start against the Reds’ Sonny Gray in the season opener, becoming the third starter, not named Justin Verlander, to win the go-ahead since 2008.
The others are Jordan Zimmermann (2018-2019) and David Price (2015).
Boyd grew up in the Seattle area and has fond memories of seeing the Mariners on opening day.
“I remember seeing Jamie Moyer and Freddy Garcia and Felix Hernandez over the course of more than 10 years in Seattle, thinking about how much fun it would be,” he said. “Doing it for a franchise like this is an honor.”
The rest of the list will not be so easy to understand.
Gardenhire said the Tigers had largely settled on their 30-man roster, but would not make any announcements until required by the league. The Tigers will bring additional players to Cincinnati, so even this week’s first two exhibition games against the Reds may not offer leads.
“You guys are screwed. You won’t know anything, ”he joked with the journalists.
The original opening day was to be in Cleveland in late March. Four months later, the Tigers will play at the other end of the state in an empty stadium.
“My family was booking their flights to Cleveland,” said Boyd. Fortunately, Delta was able to reimburse some of those. Now the family will be watching in Seattle. Well, within reason. They won’t have big parties. “
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer is angry that his union cost players money by voting against the owner’s final return-to-play proposal so they can retain the right to file an unfair labor practice complaint .AP
OPENING MATCHES EXPECTED OPENING SERIES
July 24
LHP Matthew Boyd (9-12, 4.56 ERA. 185 IP, 50 BB, 238 K. 4.32 FIP, 3.3 fWAR, 3.6 bWAR)
RHP Sonny Gray (11-8, 2.87 ERA. 175 IP, 68 BB, 205 K. 3.42 FIP, 4.4 fWAR, 5.6 bWAR)
July 25
RHP Ivan Nova (11-12, 4.72 ERA. 187 IP, 47 BB, 114 K. 4.98 FIP, 2.0 fWAR, 2.3 bWAR)
RHP Luis Castillo (15-8, 3.40 ERA. 190 IP, 79 BB, 226 K. 3.70 FIP, 4.1 fWAR, 4.5 bWAR)
July 26
RHP Spencer Turnbull (3-17, 4.61 ERA. 148 IP, 59 BB, 146 K. 3.99 FIP, 2.9 fWAR, 2.4 bWAR)
RHP Trevor Bauer (11-13, 4.48 ERA. 213 IP, 82 BB, 253 K. 4.34 FIP, 3.3 fWAr, 1.1 bWAR)
Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander (35) throws a pitch during his MLB game against the Boston Red Sox at Detroit’s Comerica Park on Sunday, August 21, 2016. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com ) Mike MulhollandMike Mulholland
STARTING DAY TIGERS SINCE 2000
2020: Matthew Boyd
2018-19: Jordan Zimmermann
2016-17: Justin Verlander
2015: David Price
2008-2014: Justin Verlander
2007: Jeremy Bonderman
2006: Kenny Rogers
2005: Jeremy Bonderman
2004: Jason Johnson
2003: Mike Maroth
2001-02: Jeff Weaver
2000: Hideo Nomo
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