GDT: 4/7/12 - DET (1-0) VS BOS (0-1) - 4:05 p.m. ET

Fister, Beckett set to duel following day off

By Joey Nowak / MLB.com | 4/5/2012 5:47 PM ET

If Doug Fister can pick up Saturday where he left off last season, the Tigers are in business. If the same goes for Boston's Josh Beckett, the Red Sox may be in trouble.

The two right-handers, who will square off in the second game of the American League heavyweights' season-opening series on Saturday, closed their 2011 campaigns on opposite ends of the spectrum.

Beckett, who owns 99 wins since 2005, was 1-2 with a 5.48 ERA in four September starts last year. Fister, acquired at the Trade Deadline last season, was 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA in 11 appearances with Detroit following the July 30 trade from Seattle.

It will all come to pass on Saturday at Comerica Park in Detroit. The two teams will have Friday off after Detroit's 3-2 Opening Day victory on Thursday.

"We have a tough schedule this first month," Tigers outfielder Delmon Young said. "We got game one under our belt, so we've got to try to come out here Saturday and do the same thing."

Beckett has had his ailing right thumb checked out twice -- most recently on Tuesday in Cleveland -- but he has been cleared to start.

"I don't have a lot of information on it," manager Bobby Valentine said. "It's not much of an injury. He's been cleared to play."

Boston won the 2011 series against Detroit, taking five of six match-ups and out-scoring Detroit, 29-13, in those contests. The Red Sox have won or split the season series against the Tigers in nine of the past 10 years.

Beckett is 2-1 with a total of three earned runs allowed in three career starts at Comerica Park, good for a 1.31 ERA (20 2/3 innings pitched).

Tigers: Dirks to debut Saturday

• Outfielder Andy Dirks is expected to be the designated hitter in Jim Leyland's lineup on Saturday, giving the Tigers another left-handed bat against Beckett. Dirks went 0-for-2 with a walk off Beckett last May 29.

• The Tigers' first six games of the season are against teams from the American League East -- the Red Sox and Rays -- who have combined for a total of five playoff appearances since 2008.

• Fister was 4-0 with a 1.86 ERA in 19 1/3 innings of work in Spring Training.

• After going 49-for-49 in save opportunities last season, Tigers closer Jose Valverde is 0-for-1 this year after one game.

Red Sox: Hit the road

• This is the 72nd time overall the Red Sox have opened the regular season on the road and 14th time in the past 17 seasons.

• Beckett, who has been an All-Star in three of his six seasons in Boston, had a sit-down with manager Bobby Valentine on New Year's Day in Texas and told the new Red Sox skipper that Jon Lester deserved the Opening Day nod. Beckett will start Boston's home opener April 13.

"He thought Jon earned the job last year and didn't do anything to lose it," Valentine said. "I said, 'You have a lot more knowledge of Opening Day starters and mentality than I.' I saw the health of both of them. I figured it's an honor both ways, I think -- home opener and opener. So they're both getting an honor."

Worth noting

• Entering Thursday, the Red Sox had the best record in the Majors against the Tigers since the start of the 2008 season.

• Beckett is 3-2 with a 2.50 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 39 2/3 career innings against the Tigers, while Fister is 1-2 with a 3.33 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 24 1/3 career innings against Boston.

• The Red Sox are now 54-57-1 all-time in Opening Day games, while the Tigers are 60-51-1. Detroit has hosted Boston five times on Opening Day, winning four of the contests.






Tigers: RHP Doug Fister (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Fister will try to pick up where he left off for the Tigers last year, when he posted an 8-1 record and a 1.79 ERA in 11 appearances following his July 30 trade from Seattle. He spent most of the spring racking up quick innings with ground balls.


Red Sox: RHP Josh Beckett (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

The right-hander's subpar September overshadowed a solid 2011 season. Beckett has 99 wins since 2005, the fifth-highest total in the Majors over that span. He has been an All-Star in three of his six seasons in Boston.




Game Information


RECENT RESULTS: Austin Jackson collected a game-winning single in the ninth inning as the Tigers edged the Red Sox 3-2 on Thursday afternoon. Jose Valverde (1-0) earned the win in relief for Detroit. The Tigers continue the club’s season-opening series with the second game of a three-game set versus the Boston Red Sox this afternoon at Comerica Park. The season-opening homestand concludes with a three-game series versus the Tampa Bay Rays beginning on Tuesday. Detroit hits the road for the club’s first road trip of the season to Chicago and Kansas City beginning on April 13.

HAPPY AT HOME: The Tigers have compiled a 154-90 record at Comerica Park since the beginning of the 2009 season, a .631 winning percentage. Detroit is second among all major league clubs with a .631 winning percentage at home during that stretch, trailing a .663 winning percentage at home by the New York Yankees.

FIELDER CLOSING IN ON 1,000 HITS: Prince Fielder enters this afternoon’s game with 997 hits during his major league career, three hits shy of reaching 1,000 for his career.

VERLANDER PUTS UP BLANKS: Justin Verlander fired eight shutout innings on Thursday versus the Red Sox, but did not factor in the decision in Detroit’s 3-2 win. He is the first Tigers pitcher to toss eight-or-more shutout innings on Opening Day since Mickey Lolich went the distance in a 5-0 win at Washington on April 6, 1970.

PAIR OF TIGERS WITH THREE HITS: Austin Jackson and Jhonny Peralta both collected three hits on Thursday afternoon versus the Red Sox. Jackson and Peralta are the first pair of Tigers players to collect three-or-more hits on Opening Day since Dean Palmer (four hits) and Deivi Cruz (three hits) did so on April 3, 2000 at Oakland.

JACKSON AT THE BEGINNING AND THE END: Austin Jackson collected a hit on both the first pitch and last pitch the Tigers saw on Thursday versus Boston. He is the first Tigers player to do so in game since Gary Pettis accomplished the feat on July 29, 1989 versus Minnesota. Tony Gwynn, Jr. was the last major league player to accomplish the feat, doing so with the Dodgers versus the Angels on June 26, 2011. (Source: STATS LLC)

CABRERA, FIELDER FORM POWERFUL COMBO: Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder are both among the leaders in the major leagues in home runs and RBI since the start of the 2006 season. Fielder is third among major league players with 228 home runs during that stretch, while Cabrera is eighth with 199 home runs. Cabrera is third in the major leagues with 694 RBI since the start of the 2006 season, while Fielder is sixth with 647 RBI.

THE READ ON THE ROSTER: Notes about Detroit’s 25-man, season-opening roster:
- 4 are on an Opening Day roster for the first time (Balester, Below, Dirks, Worth), compared to five in 2011.
- 5 were not active with the team in 2011 (Balester, Dotel, Fielder, Laird, Thomas).
- 12 have less than three years in the major leagues (Avila, Balester, Below, Boesch, Dirks, Fister, Jackson, Kelly, Porcello, Schlereth, Thomas, Worth), compared to 14 in 2011.
- 10 have five-or-more years in the majors (Benoit, Cabrera, Dotel, Fielder, Laird, Peralta, Santiago, Valverde, Verlander, Young), same as in 2011.
- 2 have less than a full season in the majors (Below, Dirks), compared to four in 2011.
- 15 return from last season’s 25-man, season-opening roster (Avila, Benoit, Boesch, Cabrera, Coke, Jackson, Kelly, Peralta, Porcello, Raburn, Santiago, Scherzer, Schlereth, Valverde, Verlander).
- 10 were selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Tigers (Avila, Below, Boesch,
Dirks, Kelly, Porcello, Raburn, Thomas, Verlander, Worth).
- 6 have been selected all-stars (Avila, Cabrera, Fielder, Peralta, Valverde, Verlander).

SPRING RECAP: The Tigers finished their Grapefruit League schedule with a 20-8-5 record, marking the fifth time since 1966 the club has posted 20-or-more wins during the spring. Detroit batted .282 (324x1148) with 195 runs scored, 51 doubles, 13 triples and 46 home runs during Grapefruit League action. The Tigers topped all American League clubs with 46 home runs this spring. Detroit compiled a 3.76 ERA (297.0IP/124ER).

NOTES ON THE SKIPPER: Jim Leyland is in his seventh season as the manager of the Tigers, compiling a 520-454 record (.534).
- Leyland enters today’s game with 1,589 wins during his major league managerial career, 18th-most all-time in major league history. He is 10 wins shy of matching Tommy Lasorda for 17th-most all-time in major league history with 1,599 wins. Leyland is tops among all active major league managers with 1,589 wins.
- Today’s game marks the 3,177th game Leyland has managed during his career, placing him in 15th place all-time in major league history.
- Leyland is one of only five managers in Tigers history to register at least 500 victories with the club. Sparky Anderson (1,331 wins), Hughie Jennings (1,131 wins), Bucky Harris (516 wins) and Steve O’Neill (509 wins) are the four other managers in Tigers history with at least 500 wins with the club.

TIGERS POST LARGEST OPENING DAY ATTENDANCE AT COMERICA PARK: The Tigers sold 45,027 tickets for Thursday’s Opening Day game versus the Red Sox, marking the largest Opening Day crowd in the 13-year history of Comerica Park.

INJURY UPDATE:
• INF Brandon Inge (left groin strain, 15-day disabled list on March 30),
• RHP Luis Marte (strained left hamstring, 15-day disabled list on April 4).
• RHP Al Alburquerque (right elbow surgery, 15-day disabled list on April 4).
• C Victor Martinez (left knee surgery, 60-day disabled list on March 12).




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STARTING LINEUPS:

RED SOX

Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
David Ortiz, DH
Kevin Youkilis, 3B
Ryan Sweeney, RF
Cody Ross, LF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
Mike Aviles, SS

P: Josh Beckett


TIGERS

Austin Jackson, CF
Brennan Boesch, RF
Miguel Cabrera, 3B
Prince Fielder, 1B
Delmon Young, LF
Alex Avila, C
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Andy Dirks, DH
Ryan Raburn, 2B

P: Doug Fister

BOS - Top 1st
B:1 S:1 O:1
Jacoby Ellsbury flies out to left fielder Delmon Young.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Dustin Pedroia grounds out, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Adrian Gonzalez out on foul tip.

0-0 AFTER .5 INNING

DET - Bot 1st
B:4 S:2 O:0
Austin Jackson walks.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Brennan Boesch lines out to shortstop Mike Aviles.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Miguel Cabrera homers (1) on a fly ball to left center field. Austin Jackson scores.
2 - 0

B:1 S:2 O:2
Prince Fielder lines out to second baseman Dustin Pedroia.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Delmon Young pops out to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez in foul territory.

2 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

BOS - Top 2nd
B:1 S:0 O:0
David Ortiz singles on a line drive to second baseman Ryan Raburn.

B:3 S:3 O:1
Kevin Youkilis out swinging.

B:4 S:2 O:1
Ryan Sweeney walks. David Ortiz to 2nd.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Cody Ross grounds into double play, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Prince Fielder. Ryan Sweeney out at 2nd.

2 - 0 AFTER 1.5 INNINGS

DET - Bot 2nd
B:0 S:0 O:1
Alex Avila grounds out, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to pitcher Josh Beckett.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to pitcher Josh Beckett.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Andy Dirks flies out to left fielder Cody Ross.

2 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

BOS - Top 3rd
B:3 S:1 O:0
Jarrod Saltalamacchia doubles (1) on a line drive to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Mike Aviles grounds out, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Jacoby Ellsbury grounds out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Prince Fielder. Jarrod Saltalamacchia to 3rd.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Dustin Pedroia grounds out, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to first baseman Prince Fielder.

2 - 0 AFTER 2.5 INNINGS

DET - Bot 3rd
B:0 S:3 O:1
Ryan Raburn out swinging.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Austin Jackson doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Cody Ross.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Brennan Boesch lines out sharply to right fielder Ryan Sweeney.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Miguel Cabrera called out on .

2 - 0 AFTER 3 INNINGS

BOS - Top 4th
B:1 S:0 O:0
Adrian Gonzalez singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:1 O:1
David Ortiz flies out to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Kevin Youkilis called out on .

Injury Delay.

Pitcher Change: Duane Below replaces Doug Fister.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Ryan Sweeney pops out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

2 - 0 AFTER 3.5 INNINGS

DET - Bot 4th
B:1 S:2 O:0
Prince Fielder homers (1) on a fly ball to left center field.
3 - 0

B:1 S:1 O:0
Delmon Young singles on a ground ball to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Alex Avila homers (1) on a fly ball to left field. Delmon Young scores.
5 - 0

B:0 S:2 O:1
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, third baseman Kevin Youkilis to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Andy Dirks grounds out, shortstop Mike Aviles to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

B:2 S:1 O:3
Ryan Raburn flies out to center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

5 - 0 AFTER 4 INNINGS

BOS - Top 5th
B:3 S:1 O:1
Cody Ross grounds out softly, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Jarrod Saltalamacchia lines out to third baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:0 S:3 O:3
Mike Aviles out swinging.

5 - 0 AFTER 4.5 INNINGS

DET - Bot 5th
Detroit Tigers pitcher Doug Fister left the game due to an injured side.

B:1 S:3 O:1
Austin Jackson called out on .

B:2 S:2 O:2
Brennan Boesch grounds out, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to pitcher Josh Beckett.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Play reviewed and overturned: Miguel Cabrera homers (2) on a fly ball to left center field.
6 - 0

B:0 S:2 O:2
Prince Fielder homers (2) on a line drive to right field.
7 - 0

B:2 S:2 O:2
Delmon Young reaches on fielding error by shortstop Mike Aviles.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Scott Atchison replaces Josh Beckett.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Alex Avila flies out to center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

7 - 0 AFTER 5 INNINGS

BOS - Top 6th
B:0 S:1 O:1
Jacoby Ellsbury grounds out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Dustin Pedroia called out on .

B:1 S:1 O:2
Adrian Gonzalez singles on a fly ball to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:1 S:0 O:3
David Ortiz flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

7 - 0 AFTER 5.5 INNINGS

DET - Bot 6th
B:2 S:1 O:0
Jhonny Peralta singles on a fly ball to center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.

B:0 S:1 O:0
Andy Dirks singles on a fly ball to center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury. Jhonny Peralta to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Ryan Raburn grounds into a force out, second baseman Dustin Pedroia to shortstop Mike Aviles. Jhonny Peralta to 3rd. Andy Dirks out at 2nd. Ryan Raburn to 1st.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Austin Jackson grounds into a force out, third baseman Kevin Youkilis to second baseman Dustin Pedroia. Jhonny Peralta scores. Ryan Raburn out at 2nd. Austin Jackson to 1st.
8 - 0

B:3 S:1 O:3
Brennan Boesch grounds into a force out, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez to shortstop Mike Aviles. Austin Jackson out at 2nd.

8 - 0 AFTER 6 INNINGS

BOS - Top 7th
Pitcher Change: Octavio Dotel replaces Duane Below.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Kevin Youkilis grounds out, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:3 S:1 O:1
Ryan Sweeney singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Cody Ross out swinging.

With Jarrod Saltalamacchia batting, Ryan Sweeney advances to 2nd on defensive indifference.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Jarrod Saltalamacchia out swinging.

8 - 0 AFTER 6.5 INNINGS

DET - Bot 7th
Pitcher Change: Matt Albers replaces Scott Atchison.

B:3 S:1 O:1
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, third baseman Kevin Youkilis to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

B:2 S:2 O:1
Prince Fielder hit by pitch.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Delmon Young singles on a ground ball to left fielder Cody Ross. Prince Fielder to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Alex Avila singles on a soft fly ball to left fielder Cody Ross. Prince Fielder to 3rd. Delmon Young to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Jhonny
Peralta grounds into a force out, third baseman Kevin Youkilis to
catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Prince Fielder out at home.Delmon Young scores. Alex Avila to 3rd. Jhonny Peralta advances to 1st, on throwing error by catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
9 - 0

Pitcher Change: Justin Thomas replaces Matt Albers.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Andy Dirks singles on a pop up to shortstop Mike Aviles. Alex Avila scores. Jhonny Peralta to 2nd.
10 - 0

B:2 S:3 O:3
Ryan Raburn out swinging.

10 - 0 AFTER 7 INNINGS

BOS - Top 8th
Defensive Substitution: Ramon Santiago replaces left fielder Delmon Young, batting 5th, playing second base.

Defensive switch from second base to left field for Ryan Raburn.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Mike Aviles out swinging.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Phil Coke replaces Octavio Dotel.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Darnell McDonald replaces Jacoby Ellsbury.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Darnell McDonald called out on .

B:4 S:0 O:2
Dustin Pedroia walks.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Adrian Gonzalez out swinging.

10 - 0 AFTER 7.5 INNINGS

DET - Bot 8th
Darnell McDonald remains in the game as the center fielder.

Pitcher Change: Michael Bowden replaces Justin Thomas.

B:4 S:1 O:0
Austin Jackson walks.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Brennan
Boesch grounds into double play, third baseman Kevin Youkilis to second
baseman Dustin Pedroia to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Austin Jackson
out at 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Miguel Cabrera grounds out, third baseman Kevin Youkilis to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

10 - 0 AFTER 8 INNINGS

BOS - Top 9th
Defensive Substitution: Don Kelly replaces first baseman Prince Fielder, batting 4th, playing first base.

Pitcher Change: Joaquin Benoit replaces Phil Coke.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Kelly Shoppach replaces David Ortiz.

B:1 S:1 O:0
Kelly Shoppach singles on a ground ball to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:2 S:0 O:2
Kevin
Youkilis grounds into double play, shortstop Jhonny Peralta to second
baseman Ramon Santiago to first baseman Don Kelly. Kelly Shoppach out at
2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:2
Ryan Sweeney singles on a line drive to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:3 S:3 O:3
Cody Ross out swinging.

WIN 10 - 0


CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE

HBP: Fielder (by Albers).
Pitches-strikes:
Beckett 83-59, Atchison 20-13, Albers 15-8, Thomas, J 10-6, Bowden 10-5, Fister 53-29, Below 29-21, Dotel 22-13, Coke 14-7, Benoit 16-9.
Groundouts-flyouts: Beckett 6-2, Atchison 3-1, Albers 2-0, Thomas, J 0-0, Bowden 2-0, Fister 5-2, Below 2-1, Dotel 1-0, Coke 0-0, Benoit 1-0.
Batters faced: Beckett 23, Atchison 6, Albers 5, Thomas, J 2, Bowden 3, Fister 14, Below 8, Dotel 5, Coke 3, Benoit 4.
Inherited runners-scored: Atchison 1-0, Thomas, J 2-1, Below 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Bill Miller. 1B: Dan Iassogna. 2B: CB Bucknor. 3B: Dale Scott.
Weather: 62 degrees, sunny.
Wind: 6 mph, R to L.
T: 2:53.
Att: 44,710.