When: 1:05 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida.
TV: None.
Radio: None (other radio affiliates).
Probable starting pitchers: Tigers LHP Matthew Boyd (2-0, 2.00 ERA this spring) vs. Cardinals LHP Matthew Liberatore (1-0, 1.80)..
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Tigers lineup:
LF Zack Short
SS Ryan Kreidler
3B Andy Ibáñez
1B Spencer Torkelson
C Eric Haase
DH Cèsar Hernández
3B Jermaine Palacios
RF Kerry Carpenter
CF Jonathan Davis
P Matthew Boyd
Game notes: The Tigers head south to Jupiter to take on the defending NL Central champs. It’s tempting to wonder, “What if?” after their end to last season; the Cards actually had a 2-0 lead entering the ninth inning of their division series Game 1 against the Philadelphia Phillies. But they imploded with six runs allowed in the top of the inning, then dropped Game 2 of the best-of-three series, 2-0, and the Phillies’ NL pennant run was on.
These aren’t your father’s Cardinals (or your grandfather’s, depending on your age), though. Gone are franchise legends Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols; the duo finally retired after last season. Gone, too, at least for a couple more days, are stars Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado, Tommy Edman, Tyler O’Neill and Lars Nootbar, due to their various World Baseball Classic duties. (OK, maybe we’re stretching “stars” here, but still, the Cards have a LOT of players out of camp.)
The next big thing in ‘the Loo’ appears to be second baseman (another term we’re using lightly considering his fielding metrics) Nolan Gorman. The now-23-year-old struggled to a .226/.300/.420 slash line in 89 games last season, just four years after being drafted in the first round out of high school. He seems much more comfortable this spring, hitting .290 with two homers, 12 strikeouts and five walks in 36 plate appearances over 12 games for the Cards.
The Tigers will send Matthew Boyd to the mound; the left-hander’s second stint is starting much better (and healthier) than his first one ended. Boyd was downright dominant in his last outing, holding the…