Casey Mize was eyeing the Opening Day start for the Tigers, but A.J. Hinch had his mind made up all along: Eduardo Rodriguez.
Hinch announced Friday that Rodriguez, Detroit's $77 million free agent acquisition, will get the ball April 8 against the White Sox at Comerica Park, a decision the manager made and relayed to Rodriguez before the start of the lockout in early December.
It will be the first Opening Day start of Rodriguez's six-year MLB career, but he's no stranger to the spotlight. The 28-year-old has started in the World Series and is by far the most experienced pitcher in the Tigers' rotation.
"He's been on the biggest stage," Hinch told reporters. "He's the most veteran starting pitcher."
Rodriguez is also starting Detroit's spring training opener on Friday, giving him four starts to get ready for Opening Day.
"The only thing that can change that is a hiccup in the program," said Hinch. "I worry about rain, I worry about a lot of different things in the next 20 days. But we lined him up on purpose that way to be the Opening Day starter."
Mize was another candidate to take the ball in the opener coming off a season in which he posted a 3.71 ERA as the headliner of Detroit's rotation, and he said this week "it definitely would be awesome" to get the nod.
"But if that's Eduardo, I’ll be fully supportive of him doing that as well and I’ll go out there and do my thing whenever that’s needed. Just looking forward to getting the season started. I’ll pitch on any day they tell me to and try to win the game," said Mize.
Mize will be the Tigers' No. 2 starter, followed by Tarik Skubal, Matt Manning and, for now, Tyler Alexander. Wily Peralta could also win the fifth spot in the rotation and the Tigers are still scanning the free agent market for another veteran starter.