Dontrelle Willis gets the call this afternoon for the Tigers when Detroit takes on the Royals and Brian Bannister in the rubber game of a three-game set in KC.
Our Thursday afternoon MLB selection is on the Detroit Tigers on the road at Kauffman Stadium over the Kansas City Royals.
The Tigers aren't through with Dontrelle Willis. At least not yet. The 28-year-old left-hander showed enough promise in the spring that he made the Detroit rotation as the fifth starter. In fact, Willis made the Tigers comfortable enough with his left arm that they shipped their only other potential left-handed veteran starter, Nate Robertson, off to Florida in late March.
Although Willis didn't blow guys away, he went a very respectable 2-0 with a 3.22 ERA in four starts for his team. This first assignment against the Royals will actually be Willis' first ever regular season start against them.
Our Thursday afternoon MLB selection is on the Detroit Tigers on the road at Kauffman Stadium over the Kansas City Royals.
The Tigers aren't through with Dontrelle Willis. At least not yet. The 28-year-old left-hander showed enough promise in the spring that he made the Detroit rotation as the fifth starter. In fact, Willis made the Tigers comfortable enough with his left arm that they shipped their only other potential left-handed veteran starter, Nate Robertson, off to Florida in late March.
Although Willis didn't blow guys away, he went a very respectable 2-0 with a 3.22 ERA in four starts for his team. This first assignment against the Royals will actually be Willis' first ever regular season start against them.
SBR Masters Matchups Contest
Willis' opponent on the hill will be right-handed veteran Brian Bannister and while Willis had a productive spring, Bannister definitely did not, putting up a 7.41 ERA in five spring starts.
Bannister has also struggled against several hitters in the Motown lineup, with Johnny Damon going 6-for-8 with two homers and three walks in 11 career plate appearances.
The Tigers improved themselves in the bullpen with the offseason acquisition of closer Jose Valverde, while their new lead-off man and center fielder Austin Jackson looks like he's going to make the team forget about the loss of Curtis Granderson pretty quickly. Take the Tigers.
Free MLB Pick: Tigers +105