LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Rep. David Price (D-NC) is getting the nod as opening-day starter for the Detroit Tigers, ending Justin Verlander’s run of having that honor at seven straight seasons.
Tigers manager announced his decision about the starter at home April 6 against Minnesota on Friday.
Price was acquired from Tampa Bay at the July 31 trade deadline and had a better season than Verlander.
After a dominant run in which Verlander won the 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young Award, he struggled last year, going 15-12 with a 4.54 ERA. Price went 4-4 with a 3.59 ERA for Detroit and had a 3.26 ERA overall.
“I just hope that one year today (Verlander) will have proven me wrong,” Ausmus said. “It was a tough decision.”
Ausmus said Verlander would get the second start of the season and likely be followed by Anibal Sanchez, Alfredo Simon and Shane Green.
“I’m just doing what I think is best for the 2015 Tigers,” Ausmus said. “They are both great pitchers. We’ll just see. They will both get their starts.”
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