DETROIT TIGERS (0-0) vs. MINNESOTA TWINS (0-0)
LHP David Price (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Phil Hughes (0-0, 0.00)
Monday, April 6, 2015 at 1:08 p.m.
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
WHAT’S ON TAP: The Tigers begin the 2015 campaign this afternoon as they host their AL Central rivals, the Minnesota Twins, in the first of a three-game series at Comerica Park. Following the three-game set vs. the Twins, the Tigers head out on the road for their first road trip of 2015, traveling to Cleveland for three games and wrapping up the road trip with a three-game Interleague series at Pittsburgh.
OPENING DAY NOTES: Today’s contest with the Minnesota Twins marks the 115th Opening Day in Tigers history. The club enters action today with a 54-59-1 record in the previous 114 season openers, including winning three straight season openers. Today marks the sixth time the Tigers have hosted the Twins in Detroit’s home opener. The Tigers defeated the Twins 10-4 at Tiger Stadium on April 7, 1997 and 10-6 at Comerica Park on April 8, 2004, while the club suffered a loss to the Twins at Tiger Stadium on April 12, 1999 (1-0) and at Comerica Park on April 3, 2001 (3-2) and March 31, 2003 (3-1).
SPRING RECAP: The Tigers finished their Grapefruit League schedule with a 12-20-3 record. Detroit batted .255 (300×1175) with 166 runs scored, 56 doubles, 10 triples, 33 home runs and 28 stolen bases during Grapefruit League action. The Tigers led all teams with 28 stolen bases during Spring Training. Detroit compiled a 4.78 ERA (303.1IP/161ER) and had 248 strikeouts, which ranked fifth among American League teams.
MIGGY ON THE MARK VS. HUGHES: Miguel Cabrera has fared well in his career against today’s Twins starter, Phil Hughes. Cabrera enters today’s game with a .516 (16×31) batting average with four doubles, five home runs and 12 RBI in his career vs. Hughes. Among active players with at least 20 at bats vs. Hughes, Cabrera leads with a .516 batting average, five home runs and 12 RBI.
VMART SHINES ON OPENING DAY: Victor Martinez has recorded at least one hit on eight of the last nine Opening Days he has played in. During the stretch, Martinez is hitting .303 (10×33) with four runs scored, three doubles, one home run and six RBI.
PRICE GETS THE OPENING DAY NOD: For the fourth time in his career, David Price is starting on Opening Day. Price also started on Opening Day in 2011, 2013 and 2014 while with Tampa Bay. Price’s start snaps Justin Verlander’s streak of starting seven consecutive Opening Days. Before today, the last Tigers pitcher besides Justin Verlander to start on Opening Day was Jeremy Bonderman, who started Opening Day in 2007 vs. Toronto.
TIGERS GETTING OFFENSIVE: The Tigers featured one of the top offenses in the American League in 2014, leading the league with a .277 team batting average, 1,557 hits, 325 doubles, 731 RBI, a .331 on-base percentage and a .426 slugging percentage, while they were second with 757 runs scored and tied for fourth with 155 home runs.
TODAY’S TIDBITS
- The first 40,000 Fans will receive a Detroit Tigers rally towel, courtesy of Ball Park and Meijer.
- The national anthem will be sung by Motown legends and members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Four Tops.
- Michigan native and recent Best Supporting Actor Academy Award winner, J.K. Simmons will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
- The game ball will be delivered by Technical Sergeant David Thomas of the Selfridge Air National Guard from Auburn Hills, Michigan.
TIGERS AT A GLANCE
Record: 0-0 / Streak: —
Game #1 / Home #1
Home: 0-0 / Road 0-0
TIGERS VS. TWINS
2015 Record: 0-0
2015 at Home: 0-0
2015 at Minnesota: 0-0
All-Time Record: 1,085-997-17
All-Time at Home: 577-467-8
All-Time at Comerica Park: 69-67
All-Time at Minnesota: 508-530-9
2015 GAME LOG
| Date | Site | Result | Winner/Loser/Save |
| 4/6 | DET | ||
| 4/8 | DET | ||
| 4/9 | DET | ||
| 4/27 | MIN | ||
| 4/28 | MIN | ||
| 4/29 | MIN | ||
| 5/12 | DET | ||
| 5/13 | DET | ||
| 5/14 | DET | ||
| 7/9 | MIN | ||
| 7/10 | MIN | ||
| 7/11 | MIN | ||
| 7/12 | MIN | ||
| 9/14 | MIN | ||
| 9/15 | MIN | ||
| 9/16 | MIN | ||
| 9/25 | DET | ||
| 9/26 | DET | ||
| 9/27 | DET |
STREAKS
Last five games: 0-0
Last 10 games: 0-0
Last 15 games: 0-0
Last 20 games: 0-0
This content was originally published on April 6, 2015. It was delivered electronically to specific media contacts and the entire Detroit Tigers front office staff, as well as being available to media in the press box and distributed to fans at program stands around Comerica Park.
