GDT: 4/8/09 - DET (0-2) AT TOR (2-0) - 7:07 p.m. ET

TORONTO -- After two midseason starting stints, a spot start at Fenway Park and a seemingly unsuccessful rotation bid, Zach Miner finally gets to open the season in the Tigers' rotation. The next challenge is to keep it.

Whether in 2006 or '08, Miner has proven effective when he gets in a comfort zone as a starter. His string of six straight victories in '06 helped keep the Tigers in playoff contention after Mike Maroth's left elbow surgery. Two years later, he was one of the few silver linings in what was an overall disappointing year for Detroit pitching. Yet both in 2006 and this spring, Miner was challenged to keep it up when he felt competition over his shoulder, whether it was Maroth's potential return in '06 or fellow candidates Nate Robertson and Rick Porcello this Spring Training.

Miner's best pitching this spring, the pitching that earned him this spot, came after manager Jim Leyland all but ruled him out for a starting job. Considering Jeremy Bonderman isn't even expected to resume throwing until next week, it's likely going to be Miner's spot for a while. He wants to take it and run.

"The thing with being there to start the season," Miner said, "is you kind of have the feeling that if I do my thing and do well, then I have a chance to do it for the whole season. Obviously, they have guys coming back, this and that, but it's been shown over the last couple years that if guys come in, step up and do a good job, then Skip's not going to replace them. Same thing with Armando [Galarraga] last year."

Galarraga went from Dontrelle Willis' injury replacement last April to a guaranteed spot by season's end. Miner wants to repeat that. His shot is right now.

"I think that's the big thing with starting [the season]," Miner said. "I kind of look at it as, if I do well, I should have 30 starts. It's up to you at that point. You don't really need a break or anything. You don't need somebody to get hurt or do poorly to get your shot. You get your shot right now."

Miner certainly doesn't wish for misfortune. But the last few years have shown he's better when the Tigers need him to step up than when he needs to step past another option Detroit might have.

There's no question the Tigers need him right now. With Porcello making his much-publicized Major League debut in the series finale Thursday afternoon, Detroit could use this game to take on momentum and take some pressure off its rookie phenom.

Miner feels he's ready. The way he stepped up over the last couple weeks of Spring Training, he believes, back him up.

"I was pretty proud of the way I handled everything," he said. "I went out after receiving some not-great news and didn't really let it affect me. I went out and did my thing and pitched."

Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Zach Miner (8-5, 4.27 ERA in 2008)
Bonderman's season-opening DL stint with right shoulder tightness means that Miner, who has had two successful summer stints as a starter over the past three years, gets to open the season in a rotation for the first time in his brief Major League career. He has been incredibly effective against the Jays in his career, tossing 16 2/3 innings with three earned runs allowed.

TOR: RHP Jesse Litsch (13-9, 3.58 ERA in 2008)
At 24 years old, and with just two big league seasons under his belt, Litsch is the most experienced starter on the staff behind ace Roy Halladay. The right-hander has gone 20-18 with a 3.67 ERA over the past two years. Litsch works fast, fields his position well and pounds the strike zone. Last season, he added a four-seam fastball to his repertoire, helping to offset his cutter and sinker. After finishing with 196 innings between Toronto and Triple-A a year ago, Litsch is hoping to top 200 innings for the Blue Jays this season.

Tidbits
Look for Ramon Santiago in Wednesday's starting lineup, spelling shortstop Adam Everett. ... Alex Rios is 1-for-8 with two strikeouts lifetime against Miner. ... Wednesday is the Tigers' last night game for a week and a half. They have afternoon starts for the next seven games, including all six on their season-opening homestand, until they start a three-game series at Seattle on April 17.

To track MLB play-by-play: http://m.mlb.com/scores/

On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FS-D

On radio
• WXYT 1270/FM 97.1

Up next

• Thursday: Tigers (RHP Rick Porcello, ML debut) at Blue Jays (LHP Ricky Romero, ML debut), 12:37 p.m. ET
• Friday: Tigers (Armando Galarraga, 13-7, 3.73 in 2008) vs. Rangers (Kris Benson, 11-12, 4.82 in 2006), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Tigers (Justin Verlander, RHP (0-1, 19.64 ERA) ) vs. Rangers (Matt Harrison, 9-3, 5.49 ERA in 2008), 1:05 p.m. ET
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Starting Lineups:

Detroit
Granderson, CF
Polanco, 2B
Ordonez, DH
Cabrera, M, 1B
Guillen, LF
Laird, C
Inge, 3B
Santiago, SS
Anderson, J, RF

Toronto
Scutaro, SS
Hill, 2B
Rios, RF
Wells, V, CF
Lind, DH
Rolen, 3B
Overbay, 1B
Barajas, C
Snider, LF

Inning 1
Top Half

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to center fielder Vernon Wells.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Placido Polanco singles on a fly ball to left fielder Travis Snider.

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Vernon Wells. Placido Polanco to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:1 -
Miguel Cabrera homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Placido Polanco scores. Magglio Ordonez scores.

3-0

B:1 S:3 O:2 -
Carlos Guillen strikes out swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:3 -
Gerald Laird flies out to right fielder Alex Rios.

3-0

Bottom Half

B:2 S:2 O:0 -
Marco Scutaro doubles (1) on a ground ball to left fielder Carlos Guillen.

B:0 S:0 O:0 -
Aaron Hill doubles (1) on a line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson. Marco Scutaro scores.

B:1 S:1 O:0 -
Alex Rios singles on a ground ball to right fielder Josh Anderson. Aaron Hill to 3rd.

3-1

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Vernon Wells walks. Alex Rios to 2nd.

B:4 S:1 O:0 -
Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:1 - Adam Lind grounds into a force out,
third baseman Brandon Inge to catcher Gerald Laird. Aaron Hill out at
home. Alex Rios to 3rd. Vernon Wells to 2nd. Adam Lind to 1st.

B:1 S:1 O:3 - Scott Rolen flies into double play,
right fielder Josh Anderson to catcher Gerald Laird. Alex Rios out at
home on the throw.

3-1 after 1 inning

Inning 2
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Brandon Inge grounds out, second baseman Aaron Hill to first baseman Lyle Overbay.

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Ramon Santiago singles on a ground ball to shortstop Marco Scutaro.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Josh Anderson flies out to right fielder Alex Rios.

B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Curtis Granderson singles on a line drive to right fielder Alex Rios. Ramon Santiago to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:3 -
Placido Polanco grounds into a force out, fielded by third baseman Scott Rolen. Ramon Santiago out at 3rd.

3-1

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
Lyle Overbay grounds out, second baseman Placido Polanco to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Rod Barajas grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:3 O:3 -
Travis Snider strikes out swinging.

3-1 after 2 innings

Inning 3
Top Half

B:3 S:1 O:1 -
Magglio Ordonez flies out to center fielder Vernon Wells.


B:3 S:1 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera pops out to second baseman Aaron Hill.


B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen called out on strikes.

Bottom Half

B:0 S:1 O:0 -
Marco Scutaro singles on a soft line drive to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:2 O:1 - Aaron Hill grounds into a force out,
third baseman Brandon Inge to second baseman Placido Polanco. Marco
Scutaro out at 2nd. Aaron Hill to 1st.

B:4 S:1 O:1 -
Alex Rios walks. Aaron Hill to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:3 - Vernon Wells grounds into double play,
shortstop Ramon Santiago to second baseman Placido Polanco to first
baseman Miguel Cabrera. Alex Rios out at 2nd.

3-1 after 3 innings

Inning 4
Top Half

B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Gerald Laird grounds out, third baseman Scott Rolen to first baseman Lyle Overbay.


B:1 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge hit by pitch.

B:0 S:1 O:1 -
With Ramon Santiago batting, Brandon Inge steals (1) 2nd base.

B:3 S:2 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago grounds out, second baseman Aaron Hill to first baseman Lyle Overbay. Brandon Inge to 3rd.

B:4 S:2 O:2 -
Josh Anderson walks.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Curtis Granderson flies out to center fielder Vernon Wells.

3-1

Bottom Half

B:2 S:3 O:1 -
Adam Lind strikes out swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Scott Rolen singles on a ground ball to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:1 S:0 O:2 -
Lyle Overbay flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:0 S:2 O:3 -
Rod Barajas flies out to left fielder Carlos Guillen.

3-1 after 4 innings

Inning 5
Top Half

B:1 S:3 O:1 -
Placido Polanco called out on strikes.

B:1 S:2 O:2 -
Magglio Ordonez grounds out, third baseman Scott Rolen to first baseman Lyle Overbay.

B:1 S:1 O:2 -
Miguel Cabrera homers (2) on a fly ball to center field.

B:1 S:1 O:3 -
Carlos Guillen grounds out to pitcher Jesse Litsch.

4-1

Bottom Half

B:3 S:2 O:1 -
Travis Snider flies out to center fielder Curtis Granderson.

B:0 S:0 O:2 -
Marco Scutaro grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:3 S:3 O:3 -
Aaron Hill strikes out swinging.

4-1 after 5 innings

Inning 6
Top Half

B:1 S:0 O:1 -
Gerald Laird lines out to right fielder Alex Rios.

B:2 S:2 O:1 -
Brandon Inge homers (3) on a fly ball to left center field.

5-1

B:2 S:3 O:2 -
Ramon Santiago called out on strikes.

B:0 S:3 O:3 -
Josh Anderson called out on strikes.

5-1

is 1st Tiger to hit home runs in each of the first three games since at least the 1950's!