After taking a 6-3 loss on Opening Day, the Detroit Tigers try to even up their series with the New York Yankees Saturday afternoon. Brad Penny makes his Tigers debut for the road team today. And A.J. Burnett attempts to show that he’s worthy of being a No. 2 pitcher, as he starts for the Yankees.
Burnett has a 3-1 career record versus Detroit, but a 7.34 ERA over 30 2/3 innings. Penny has pitched mostly in the National League in his career, so has only faced the Yankees twice. He’s 1-1 with a 6.60 ERA over 15 innings.
Here are the starting lineups:
Detroit Tigers
1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Will Rhymes, 2B
3. Magglio Ordonez, RF
4. Miguel Cabrera,1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Brennan Boesch, LF
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Alex Avila, C
9. Brandon Inge, 3B
New York Yankees
1. Brett Gardner, LF
2. Derek Jeter, SS
3. Mark Teixeira, 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez, 3B
5. Robinson Cano, 2B
6. Nick Swisher, RF
7. Jorge Posada, DH
8. Curtis Granderson, CF
9. Russell Martin, C
The Yanks go with the same lineup as Thursday. No reason for them to change anything.
For the Tigers, the two changes are Brennan Boesch getting the start in left field and Brandon Inge batting ninth. If it wasn’t so early in the season, maybe Ryan Raburn would be starting. But Jim Leyland probably wants to get Boesch some early at-bats. As far as Inge goes, maybe Leyland is trying to boost Alex Avila’s confidence a bit after his bad performance on Thursday by moving him from ninth.
Today’s game is on FOX’s Saturday Game of the Week, and with the Yankees involved will be the top match-up in the network’s regional coverage. The No. 1 announcing team of Joe Buck and Tim McCarver will call the game. (via Awful Announcing)
For more coverage of the Tigers all season long, make sure to visit Bless You Boys. Also, make sure to stop by Baseball Nation, SB Nation’s new hub for MLB.