News broke this morning that when the Detroit Tigers take on the Boston Red Sox, the weekend of April 7th, Michael Fulmer will be the starting pitcher.
Your #OpeningDayDET starter against the Red Sox: @MFulmer12 pic.twitter.com/NRpIIw14Ap
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) March 25, 2017
This plan was tentatively in place as of Friday afternoon but became official this morning. Fulmer had a breakout year in 2016, earning him American League Rookie of the Year, and was one of the main reasons the Tigers were in the playoff hunt for so long. Last season he burst onto the scene with an 11-7 record, 3.06 ERA, and 132 strikeouts in 152 innings.
The announcement this morning sheds a little light on the order of the pitching rotation. Knowing that Justin Verlander will pitch Opening Day in Chicago means Zimmerman, Norris, Sanchez, Pelfrey, or Boyd could be those 2-3 guys in the rotation. Safe bets would put Zimmermann at 2, and beyond that, one couldn’t have a clue.
Friday, April 7th, Michael Fulmer will take the hill for the Tigers to begin his second season in the Major Leagues. Here’s to hoping it’s as good or better than the first.
