Game 1: Tigers @ Twins

First Pitch: 3:10pm CDT

TV: FS-N

Radio: K-Twin, TIBN, BOB FM

Know Thine Enemy: Bless You Boys

Twins VS Tigers Preview

Stat to Remember: Joe Mauer is a .351/.456/.561 career hitter off of Justin Verlander.

Vance Worley

#49 / Pitcher / Minnesota Twins

Height: 6-2

Weight: 230

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Sep 25, 1987

Worley was in Philadelphia for at least part of each of the last three seasons, each of which saw Roy Halladaytake the hill as the Phillies' Opening Day starter. Thanks to Scott Diamond starting the year on the disabled list, and a rotation that doesn't have much to offer in terms of high caliber talent, he now gets the chance to make his first Opening Day start of his career. He may have an advantage against a potent Tiger lineup in the relatively chilly weather, but it will certainly be interesting watching to see how he deals with Detroit's dangerous hitters.

Justin Verlander

#35 / Pitcher / Detroit Tigers

Height: 6-5

Weight: 225

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Feb 20, 1983

This will be Verlander's sixth consecutive Opening Day start, having had the honor going back to 2008. In his first three seasons in the Majors, Jeremy Bonderman, Kenny Rogers, and then Bonderman again were called upon in succession. The good news, I suppose, is that the only one of those Opening Day starts that saw Verlander be truly effective was in 2012. Let's hope the cold straightens him out a little bit and gives the Twins hitters a better shot at squaring up.

Lineups

Tigers

Jackson, CF
Hunter, RF
Cabrera, 3B
Fielder, 1B
Martinez, DH
Dirks, LF
Peralta, SS
Avila, C
Infante, 2B

Twins

Hicks, CF
Mauer, C
Willingham, LF
Morneau, 1B
Doumit, DH
Parmelee, RF
Plouffe, 3B
Dozier, 2B
Florimon, SS