DETROIT TIGERS (1-0) vs. MINNESOTA TWINS (0-1)
RHP Anibal Sanchez (0-0, 0.00) vs. RHP Ricky Nolasco (0-0, 0.00)
Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at 1:08 p.m.
Comerica Park, Detroit, MI
RECENT RESULTS: The Tigers opened the 2015 season with a 4-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday at Comerica Park. David Price started for Detroit and earned the win, throwing 8.2 shutout innings with five hits allowed and five strikeouts. Joe Nathan picked up the save, striking out the only batter he faced. Alex Avila and J.D. Martinez each homered with Avila driving in two runs in the victory. Avila, Yoenis Cespedes, Jose Iglesias and Ian Kinsler each finished the game with two hits. The Tigers and Twins continue their three-game series this afternoon. Following the series vs. Minnesota, Detroit hits the road for the first time in 2015, traveling to Cleveland for a three-game series Friday-Sunday and then heading to Pittsburgh for three games vs. the Pirates from April 13-15.
VERLANDER PLACED ON DL, LOBSTEIN RECALLED: The Tigers today will officially place righthanded pitcher Justin Verlander on the 15-day disabled list due to a right triceps strain retroactive to March 29th. The Tigers today have recalled the contract of lefthanded pitcher Kyle Lobstein and he is tentatively scheduled to start on Sunday, April 12th at Cleveland. Lobstein pitched in seven games, including six as a starter, with the Tigers in 2014 and compiled a 1-2 record with a 4.35 ERA (39.1IP/19ER).
TIGERS-YANKEES GAME ON APRIL 20 PICKED UP BY ESPN: The Tigers-Yankees game on Monday, April 20, has been picked up by ESPN. The game will also air locally on FOX Sports Detroit. First pitch for the game remains at 7:08 p.m.
OPENING DAY WIN STREAK REACHES FOUR: The Tigers extended their Opening Day winning streak to four with a 4-0 win on Monday vs. the Twins. The four-game Opening Day winning streak is the longest for the Tigers since they also won four straight season opening games from 1983-86.
THE PRICE IS RIGHT: David Price turned in an impressive outing in his first start of 2015, throwing 8.2 scoreless innings with five hits allowed and five strikeouts. Price’s 8.2 shutout innings where the most thrown by a Tigers pitcher on Opening Day since Mickey Lolich tossed a complete game shutout on April 6, 1970 at Washington. Also, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, Price became the second Tigers pitcher to not allow a run, walk or extra base hit in the season opener, joining Schoolboy Rowe in 1936. Price now has a 2-1 record with a 2.48 ERA (29.0IP/8ER) in four Opening Day starts in his career.
CESPEDES MASHES VS. MINNESOTA: Yoenis Cespedes has feasted on Minnesota pitching in his career. In 16 career games vs. the Twins, Cespedes is hitting .379 (25×66) with 14 runs scored, six doubles, two triples, four home runs and 20 RBI. Cespedes has hit safely in 15 of 16 career games vs. Minnesota, including eight multi-hit games. Since 2012, Cespedes’ .379 batting average vs. Minnesota ranks fifth among active American League hitters.
KINSLER ON TARGET VS. NOLASCO: Ian Kinsler has fared well in his career against today’s Twins starter, Ricky Nolasco. Kinsler is hitting .417 (5×12) with three doubles and two RBI in his career vs. Nolasco.
IN THE COMMUNITY: During six select games this season, the Tigers and Aquafina will host over 10,000 students from local schools to reward them for being a member of their school’s safety patrol or having perfect attendance for a marking period.
TODAY’S TIDBITS
- The first pitch will be thrown out by a member of the Detroit Tigers Kids Club.
- The national anthem will be performed by Reading High School Choir from Reading, MI.
TIGERS AT A GLANCE
Record: 1-0 / Streak: W1
Game #2 / Home #2
Home: 1-0 / Road 0-0
TIGERS VS. TWINS
2015 Record: 1-0
2015 at Home: 1-0
2015 at Minnesota: 0-0
All-Time Record: 1,086-997-17
All-Time at Home: 578-467-8
All-Time at Comerica Park: 70-67
All-Time at Minnesota: 508-530-9
2015 GAME LOG
| Date | Site | Result | Winner/Loser/Save |
| 4/6 | DET | W, 4-0 | Price/Hughes/Nathan |
| 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: 1-0
Last 10 games: 1-0
Last 15 games: 1-0
Last 20 games: 1-0
This content was originally published on April 8, 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.
