Frank LorenzoThe Detroit Tigers will start the road to their fourth straight AL Central title against the Kansas City Royals this Monday, at 1:08 PM ET at Comerica Park, in the debut of Brad Ausmus as manager in the MLB.
Ausmus took the place manager Jim Leyland left last season when he retired. “I’m assuming it will be similar to opening day, the first time I played an opening day,” Ausmus said. “Having been to Detroit, I know there will be a ton of energy in the stadium, having played opening day there before. I’m sure I’ll be excited about it, but you wouldn’t know it if you saw me.”
The star Justin Verlander will be on the mountain for Detroit, and Kansas City will send right-hander James Shields.
Last season the Royals finished above .500 for the first time in 10 years; they expect to show improvement not only in the opening day, but in the entire 2014 season.
“We like playing the Tigers. Every time they come into town, or we go there, it’s a different energy when we play them, and it has to be,” Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer said. “They’re the ones we have to set out to get. That’s who we have to go through to win the division. We welcome the challenge.”
The MLB odds have the Tigers as favorites -157 in the money line, meanwhile the Royals are listed +157. The runs total is set at 7.
