Brad Ausmus isn’t much of one to say much of anything about a game afterwards, but even Brad couldn’t help commenting on yesterday’s bullpen fiasco: “if it continues, we won’t win.” Brad himself hasn’t exactly impressed fans with his bullpen management, then again, he doesn’t seem to have a whole lot to work with. It would be great if the Tigers could dump, say, Anibal Sanchez, and get a dependable bullpen arm. But those limbs don’t grow on trees, nobody is going to take Sanchez off of our hands, and we are unlikely to spring for anything high-priced either, considering the team is already over the salary tax cap. (Unless someone would take on some of Sanchez’ salary, which seems unlikely, if the Tigers cut him and acquired someone else they would be paying a 30% tax on that salary).

At least William “Billy Beer” Cuevas won’t terrorize us today: he has been swapped with Warwick Saupold, who’s name sounds less like a beer vendor and more like, say, a steeplechase jockey. Now where was I?

Oh yes. Despite all the late inning nonsense, it was a win. Against Cleveland. At Cleveland. Last season it took them until July 6 to do that.

A Win’s A Win Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Nick Castellanos, 3B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Justin Upton, LF
6. Tyler Collins, RF
7. James McCann, C
8. Andrew Romine, CF
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Pitching: Justin Verlander vs Corey Kluber, a matchup worthy of the Fox Sports One national game selection.

There were some good things about yesterday’s game—the middle of the lineup showed up, with long balls from Cabrera and Upton, and Jimenez had a good debut out of the bullpen (and is now back in Toledo). Then there was Anibal Sanchez, who for some reason was brought in in a crucial situation to replace Zimmermann, and who made all future game situations, well, non-crucial. What to do? It seems like their choices are to dump Sanchez and pay him, or pay him and use him as a human surrender flag. Or, I suppose, fix whatever is wrong, but that is looking less and less likely.

Today the Tigers start a series in Cleveland that is being called critical, which is sort of silly at this point in the season. But then again, after what happened against Cleveland last season…a series win would sure be nice and help us all forget last year.

Today’s Announced Way Early Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Nick Castellanos, 3B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Justin Upton, LF
6. Tyler Collins, RF
7. Alex Avila, C
8. JaCoby Jones, CF
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Pitching: Daniel Norris vs Trevor Bauer

Alex Avila? Well hey he is batting .600 so far this year, so there’s that.

The lineups used to be announced about an hour before game time; this year they have come out much sooner than that—today’s at about 2:45. I wonder if this is a MLB thing, or a Tigers thing, or a media thing. Are they submitting them sooner, or publishing them sooner. It makes putting up the posts much easier though.

For the third straight day the Tigers win in exciting fashion. I could get used to this.

The Tigers will be facing Phil Hughes, who always seems to give them fits. But that was before they discovered their secret Caesar recipe. Perhaps MLB wondered about the recipe: Andrew Romine was drug tested immediately following the game. (Thanks to Only Tiger Fan in Mississippi for the link).

Meanwhile, Miguel Cabrera has changed his walkup music.

Today’s Lettuce Leadoff Lineup:

1. Romine, 2B
2. Castellanos, 3B
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. V Martinez, DH
5. Upton, LF
6. Collins, RF
7. McCann, C
8. Jones, CF
9. Iglesias, SS

Jordan Zimmermann, P

Instead of sitting the hot bat of Romine (still strange to type that), Brad decided to give Kinsler his first day off and serve The Lettuce as the opening course.

With Miguel Cabrera’s bat beginning to appear on milk cartons throughout the greater Detroit area, the pitching staff once again stepped up to take a 2nd consecutive 2-1 game, and turn the ball over to Michael Fulmer (0.00 ERA) for today’s game. Boyd was sharp, and was in danger of being pitch-counted out of the game with a live no-hitter. The bullpen has gone from shaky to streaky (which is an improvement), with Justin Wilson being the consistent arm. Wilson has now gone 4 2/3 without giving up a run, and sports a snazzy 0.429 WHIP.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Castellanos, 3B
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. V Martinez, DH
5. Upton, LF
6. Collins, RF
7. McCann, C
8. Roman, CF
9. Iglesias, SS

Michael Fulmer, P

The Tigers get the hot bat of The Lettuce back in the lineup. Really. Romine is 2nd on the Tigers in OPS with 1.375 (Avila is first with only 4 ABs and 1.6000). In fact he is 6th on the Tigers in WAR (Kinsler leads the way there).

If you like pitching duels, you must have loved yesterday’s Cy vs Cy contest. It was an exciting game and a great win. One thing is obvious: the Verlander train is still rolling down the same track it was on last season. The key moment of the game: with two on and nobody out Castellanos booted what should have been a double-play ball, and Verlander shrugged it off and got them out of the inning with only one run. A younger Verlander used to get visibly upset about things like that. It was all the sweeter that after costing the team a run (and about 20 more pitches for Verlander), Castellanos was the one who won the game. Great game, great win.

Next up is an early season surprise: the hot Minnesota Twins. Yes, the Twins. They are 5-1 and have been winning by blowout margins (they have a +17 run differential). They have three guys in the starting lineup with 1.000+ OPS: Jorge Polanco (1.117), Miguel Sano (1.308), and Jason Castro (1.165). Boyd, who struggled badly his first start, will have his work cut out for him.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Castellanos, 3B
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. V Martinez, DH
5. Upton, LF
6. Mahtook, RF
7. McCann, C
8. Jones, CF
9. Machado, SS

Matthew Boyd, P

Upton is back with his back intact, let’s see if his bat can match that which the Lettuce had. Dixon Machado cracks the lineup today, it will be nice to get a look at him.

It feels strange finishing a weekend series on a Monday, but that’s what we’ve got today.

We aren’t the only ones tired of the 8th inning bullpen meltdowns (by meltdown I don’t mean giving up runs or giving up leads, I’m talking about 4-run+ innings). The Tigers have shipped Bruce Rondon back to Toledo and brought up rookie Joe Jimenez. I’d also like to see Ausmus start doing what some have suggested here. If one of the Wilsons come in in the 7th and mows down the batter(s) he faces, why not bring him back for the 8th also?

Miggy finally got a couple marks in the hit column.

Today’s Can’t We Just Skip the 8th Inning? Lineup:

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Castellanos, 3B
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. V Martinez, DH
5. Mahtook, RF
6. McCann, C
7. Jones, CF
8. Iglesias, SS
9. Roman, LF

Justin Verlander, P

Victor Martinez at least should be happy to see Chris Sale in a Boston uniform. Vmart has hit Sale at a .435 clip for his career, with a 1.242 OPS.

Lineup has been updated, Upton scratched with stiff back.

That was an all-around good game. Again, it was the bottom of the order picking up the slack. Another big O-fer for Miggy, with 3 K’s.

Today’s Undefeated at Home Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Nick Castellanos, 3B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Justin Upton, LF
6. Ty Collins, RF
7. Alex Avila, C
8. Andrew Romine, CF
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Daniel Norris, P

Since it’s a Sunday lineup today, I kind of wish they had riven Cabrera a rest. I’m looking for Fingers Collins to be the big bat today. The Lettuce will be roaming center.

That was quite a wild ride in yesterday’s home opener, from the depths of blowpen despair to the heights of elation with the comeback bottom of the order rally, to a nail-biting Todd Jones/Papa Grande deja vu ninth inning.

Miguel Cabrera and Jose Iglesias both continue to be 0-for-2017.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Nick Castellanos, 3B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Justin Upton, LF
6. Mike Mahtook, RF
7. James McCann, C
8. JaCoby Jones, CF
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Jordan Zimmermann, P

It’s too soon to tell, especially after the way the season sputtered to a start in the rain, but this offense certainly has the look of one that will have us crossing our fingers and hoping for a few home runs: they don’t look rally-worthy, especially with Victor clogging the bases whenever he gets on, Kinsler getting picked off as much as professionally possible, and various other clownery.

It’s the Curly Fries Offense (or nothing). Well, they do have one non-HR RBI , courtesy of Alex Avila of all people.

It doesn’t help that Miguel Cabrera has started the season 0-for-6, which isn’t really a big deal, but still is something he has never done before (which is pretty incredible).

But none of that matters today. The season has barely begun, and there is a whole lot of time to prove initial impressions wrong. And it’s Home Opener Day! Pudge Rodriguez will throw out the first pitch, the outfield grass sports a MR. I tribute, the planes will fly overhead, much will be had to eat and drink, and baseball will be back in the D. Enjoy, everyone!

Today’s Home Opener Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Nick Castellanos, 3B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Justin Upton, LF
6. Tyler Collins, RF
7. James McCann, C
8. JaCoby Jones, CF
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Michael Fulmer, P

Fingers Collins was all the Tiger offense yesterday, and earns himself another start.

On the Red Sox side of things, the Tigers get a bit of a break with Mookie Betts and Hanley Ramirez both out with “flu-like symptoms,” and Xander Bogaerts already out on bereavement.