Sunday, April 1, 2018

Sunday Game One: Williams v Fulmer

Today: The game starts at 1:10 at Comerica Park as round one of a split doubleheader. It will be shown on AT&T SportsNet with 93.7 The Fan providing the radio-side coverage.As for weather, it'll be dry by with temps in the upper thirties - lower forties. Here's to opening in San Diego next year!

Lineup: A repeat of Opening Day's Lumber Company lineup: Fraze DH, J-Hay 2B, El Coffee RF, J-Bell 1B, Corey Dickerson LF, Starling Marte CF, Fran Cervelli C, Colin Moran 3B, Jordy SS (Trevor Williams P).



Pitchers: RHP Trevor Williams (7-9/4.07) climbs the hill opposite RHP Michael Fulmer (10-12/3.83). Williams had a strong kick after a slow start in 2017 and showed a much improved K-rate in the spring, so we'll see if he can build on that. On the other side of the pillow, he also had some problems last year against lefties and on the road. Fulmer, a control guy who pitches to contact, was a 2017 All-Star in his second campaign. The first-round pick of 2011 out of HS came over from the Mets in 2015 as part of the Yoenis Cespedes deal. It will be the first time Fulmer has faced his opponent; William's last outing against the Tigers was a good one, going seven innings of one-hit ball last August in a 3-0 win.

Notes:
  • Both clubs can call up a 26th man for today's twinbill.The Buccos opted for an extra arm and sent for Clay Holmes, who can go multiple innings if need be, especially as long man Steven Brault is expected to be on ice after throwing 47 pitches Friday. The Tigers called up LHP Ryan Carpenter from AAA Toledo; he'll start the second game. Both bullpens welcomed the break; each team had one reliever left unused in the Opener.
  • Joe Musgrove threw six innings and 92 pitches yesterday at Pirate City against the GCL pups, and he's set to rejoin the rotation against the Reds at PNC Park next week.
  • Lefties are like achy knees; you can't get rid of them. 36-year-old Ollie Perez signed a minor league deal with Yankees after being cut by the Reds. 
  • Kevin Pillar of Toronto stole second, third and home against Dellin Betances of the Yankees. He had two inspirations for the swipe, both with local roots - first, he had parsed Pirates minor leaguer Lolo Sanchez's Grapefruit steal of home against the Phils in the clubhouse, and second, ex-Bucco Gift Ngoepe of the .222 lifetime BA was at bat with two outs.

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