Detroit Tigers V. Minnesota Twins Game Preivew

Apr 2, 2015; Lakeland, FL, USA; General view during a spring training baseball game at Joker Marchant Stadium between the Detroit Tigers and the New York Yankees was 6772. The Tigers won 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

It is finally back! Baseball is finally back to being in your life everyday. Well okay technically it started last night as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 3-0. However today marks opening day for Major League Baseball and for opening day for the Detroit Tigers. While opening day isn’t an official holiday, playing hooky from class or calling in “sick” sure isn’t frowned on among the baseball community.

First the important things, game info.

First pitch: 1:05 pm
TV: Fox Sports Detroit
Radio: 97.1 The Ticket, other affiliates
Live stream: MLB.TV
Location: Comerica Park, Detroit Michigan
Starting Pitchers: David Price (DET) Phil Hughes (MIN)

This is the first time since 2007 that the starting pitcher on the mound will not be Justin Verlander. This season fans will be treated to the work of lefty David Price. The Tigers got Price in a late July trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and is expected to help the Tigers as they try to win their fifth consecutive American Central title.

Detroit Tigers /

Detroit Tigers

Price and the Tigers will be taking on Phil Hughes who is on the mound for the Minnesota Twins. Last season Hughes struck hitters out and walked very few of them. He had 7.98 K/9 and 0.69 BB/9 which is pretty impressive. He also doesn’t give up the long ball very easily posting a 0.69 HR/9 in the 2014 season. There is no doubt that Hughes is the legitimate starting pitcher for the Twins.

This opening day could easily be a pitching duel between Price and Hughes. The key for the Tigers this game will be one simple thing, their bats. This team, if they can stay healthy throughout the season, will have one of the scariest lineups in baseball. This is the line up for the game today.

Tigers line up:
Davis CF
Kinsler 2B
Cabrera 1B
V. Martinez DH
J. Martinez RF
Cespedes LF
Castellanos 3B
Avila C
Iglesias SS

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This line up would give me as a pitcher nightmares the night before the game and the night after the game. This line up can hit and it is just them clicking early and then staying healthy throughout the season. I think the Tigers get to Hughes first with not big home runs, but hard timely hits and some speedy players stealing bases I think that will be the key for the Tigers today.

The only thing worrisome to fans is the bullpen, the bullpen had ups and downs throughout the Spring, however, that is Spring training and this is the regular season, there is a difference. If Price can go six or seven strong innings and then the Tigers bullpen with Angel Nesbitt and Joakim Soria looking very good through Spring. The big question is can Joe Nathan come out and get the close.