Pirates-Tigers: Williams v Fulmer; Notes

Today: The game starts at 1:10 at Comerica Park. It will be shown on AT&T SportsNet and out-of-market on the MLB Network, with 93.7 The Fan providing the radio-side coverage. And it's still raw weather-wise in the Motor City. A Wind Advisory is in effect for part of the day, with rain expected around lunchtime and lasting through sunset.

Lineup: A repeat. and why not? 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 second half 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:

• 3B Colin Moran, P's Steven Brault, Edgar Santana, & Dovydas Neverauskas along with C Elias Diaz all made their first MLB Opening Day roster yesterday. All but Eli played.
• How unsettled has 1B been for the Pirates? Josh Bell became the first Pirates first-sacker to get back-to-back Opening Day starts since Adam LaRoche in 2007-09.
• The game took five hours and 27 minutes to play, becoming not only the longest Opening Day game in Bucco history but also in MLB annals. And it wasn't even the longest, innings-wise, game of the day. The Marlins took 17 frames to beat the Cubs (yesssss!) 2-1, though it only took them five hours and 18 minutes.
• Who has the most young flamethrowers who have hit 100+? Why, the Buccos, of course, per Baseball America.
• Worth a read: The Pittsburgh Quarterly's John Miller examines how youth baseball is becoming a game for the well-to-do as the community little league outfits are being raided by costly travel team nines.