Detroit Tigers vs Baltimore Orioles 4/6/14: Game Time, TV/Radio, Lineup

Apr 5, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman

(32) slides in safe at home in the sixth inning ahead of the tag by Baltimore Orioles catcher

(32) at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers will look to start the season at 5-0 and clinch a perfect Opening Week home stand with a victory over the reeling Baltimore Orioles on Sunday afternoon.

As expected, Alex Avila will sit with Bryan Holaday getting his first start behind the plate, catching for Justin Verlander. Miguel Cabrera will receive a partial day off and DH while Victor Martinez will play first. Full lineup below.

Detroit Tigers (4-0) vs Baltimore Orioles (1-4) — 1:08 PM

Comerica Park — Detroit, MI

TV: FSD, MLB.com (For out-of-market fans, most cable and satellite providers have a free preview of MLB Extra Innings for the season’s first week)

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket

Weather: 59 degrees, mostly sunny

Game Notes

• The Orioles will be looking to avoid their fifth straight loss and going 1-5 in the ultra-competitive American League East.
• So far this season Baltimore has been outscored by their opponents 28 to 17.
• Following the game, the Tigers will take a day off before heading to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers on Tuesday and Wednesday and facing the Padres in San Diego next weekend. Baltimore will head to the Bronx to face the New York Yankees in their home opener on Monday.

When We Last Met

For the second time in two days, the Detroit Tigers’ starter got off to a rocky start and allowed the visiting Baltimore Orioles to grab the lead in the first inning. For the second time in two days, it didn’t matter as the Tigers held on through a gut-wrenching 9th to beat the Orioles, 7-6. Rick Porcello was the star of the day, but the story of the day became not that the Tigers started 4-0, but that the defense and bullpen nearly pulled the unthinkable and lost a six-run ninth inning lead after a tough ninth inning the game before.

Pitching Matchup

The rotation flips back to the top for both teams in the series finale on Sunday. Going for the Tigers will be Justin Verlander. JV had a so-so Opening Day, allowed three runs–two earned–on six hits, but he struggled with his control, walking three batters and striking out only two. But Verlander was able to mitigate the traffic on the bases, which allowed the Tigers to score a come-from-behind win.

Verlander was 0-1 in two starts against Baltimore last year, allowing eight runs on 15 hits over 12 innings. Despite being rocked by the Orioles a year ago, that one loss was the first in his career against them, going 8-1 with a 3.26 ERA in 13 starts. He has matched up pretty well against their batters, with J.J. Hardy posting the highest average (.258) for a player with 10 or more at-bats.

Chris Tillman allowed a run on seven hits against Boston on Opening Day in Camden Yards, but received a no-decision in his team’s 2-1 victory. He faced Detroit once last year, allowing three runs in a 13-3 Baltimore mashing on June 19. Ian Kinsler and Miguel Cabrera have enjoyed hitting against Tillman, with each hitting a homer against the righty.

Tigers Lineup

1. Ian Kinsler-2B
2. Torii Hunter-RF
3. Miguel Cabrera-DH
4. Victor Martinez-1B
5. Austin Jackson-CF
6. Tyler Collins-LF
7. Nick Castellanos-3B
8. Bryan Holaday-C
9. Andrew Romine-SS