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Detroit Tigers: Predicting the Opening Day Lineup

By Matt Snyder

Mar 4, 2016; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) is congratulated by second baseman Ian Kinsler (3) and center fielder Anthony Gose (12) after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2016; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) is congratulated by second baseman Ian Kinsler (3) and center fielder Anthony Gose (12) after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Detroit Tigers will be happy for their right-handed heavy lineup when they face the Miami Marlins on Opening Day.

One of the concerns facing the 2016 Detroit Tigers is a batting lineup that is slanted heavily toward the right side of the plate. With so many right-handed hitters in the lineup (every position except designated hitter and center field right now) there’s a chance the team could struggle when facing right-handed starting pitchers.

That won’t be a concern, however, when the Tigers take the field on Opening Day in Miami as the Marlins have found it in their hearts to schedule left-hander Wei-Yin Chen for the start.

The Tigers, of course, will not be able to make use of the designated hitter position in the National League park, but other than that they’ll be able to trot out their most-days lineup. The only exception in this case being Anthony Gose playing every day in center field while Cameron Maybin recovers from a broken wrist suffered in the first Grapefruit League game of the spring.

Here’s the lineup manager Brad Ausmus will likely jot down for Opening Day:

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  1. Ian Kinsler, 2B (R)
  2. Justin Upton, LF (R)
  3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B (R)
  4. J.D. Martinez, RF (R)
  5. Nick Castellanos, 3B (R)
  6. James McCann, C (R)
  7. Jose Iglesias, SS (R)
  8. Anthony Gose, CF (L)
  9. Justin Verlander, P (neither)

The second game of the season will be quite a different story when dominant right-handed starter Jose Fernandez is scheduled to take the mound against the Tigers.

The lineup will mostly remain the same — with switch-hitting catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia taking McCann’s spot in a day game after a night game and against a righty — but we will expect vastly different results.

If a weakness against right-handed pitching is every going to rear its head, it’s going to be against pitchers like Fernandez.

Next: Detroit Tigers All-Time 25-Man Roster

For what it’s worth (very little to be quite honest), the Detroit Tigers have hit for a combined batting line of .317/.359/.650 against Chen in his career (only 64 total plate appearances).

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