Every year for the last few years, there was little debate about who should be handed the ball come opening day. It was must see JV time! Well, that tradition continues… only in Houston not in the D.
Here – we get ‘Must see Z time’. The Tigers have named Jordan Zimmermann the starting pitcher for opening day on March 29 when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park, according to Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press.
Jordan Zimmermann will start Opening Day for the Tigers, manager Ron Gardenhire said.
— anthony fenech (@anthonyfenech) March 17, 2018
Gardenhire had this to say about the decision:
“Zimmermann’s the veteran guy here,” Gardenhire said of his decision, according to Evan Woodberry of MLive.com. “To me, he’s the leader of this group and I think he should have the ball.
“For me, (Zimmermann) was a natural (choice),” the skipper continued. “I never really thought too much about anybody else other than him.”
Zimmermann posted a 6.08 ERA and 1.550 WHIP in 2017, while allowing over 11 hits per nine innings in 29 starts, and his 108 earned runs allowed were the most in all of baseball.
http://gty.im/929649020
Zimmermann gets the start ahead of former Rookie of the Year and 2017 All-Star Michael Fulmer. Many believed that Fulmer would get the nod, including many in media and on the DSN team.
Inside look into the DSN team chat…
Paul NaCl ???? Rochon [5:15 PM]
…..Holy shit
That’s terrible
Is fulmer dead?
I hereby retract all the times I wrote Michael Fulmer would *obviously* start Opening Day. Today's news was a surprise, to say the least. Gardenhire was even asked if he was joking. He said he wasn't.
— Evan Woodbery (@evanwoodbery) March 17, 2018
Zimmermann is about to begin the third season of a five-year, $110-million contract with the Tigers. He has appeared in just 48 total games over the past two seasons. This spring he owns a 4.15 ERA with 12 strikeouts in four outings.
