Pirates-Tigers postponed, will open on Friday
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DETROIT -- Opening Day in the Motor City will have to wait a day. Thursday's scheduled game between the Tigers and Pirates at Comerica Park was postponed until Friday due to rain in the forecast all afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. ET.
What had been forecast just a few days ago to be a warm, nice afternoon for baseball in Detroit ultimately turned cool, wet and miserable in a lesson of how unpredictable early spring Michigan weather can be. Tailgaters who made their way downtown Thursday morning were greeted with rain on their way. The rain let up around mid-morning, but more was forecast for the afternoon from a weather system marching up from Indiana.
It was the second weather-related postponement for Opening Day in Major League Baseball. The Reds pushed back their scheduled matinee Thursday against the Nationals to Friday as well, due to the same weather system.
Friday's forecast calls for partial sunshine with temperatures reaching the mid-40s.
Friday was originally scheduled to be an off-day for both teams, but it was built into the schedule for just this scenario. All tickets from Thursday's game are good for Friday, with no exchange necessary. For those who can't make it, tickets can be exchanged for any future regular-season Tigers home game in the next 12 months.
Thursday's scheduled starters, Detroit's Jordan Zimmermann (8-13, 6.08 ERA in 2017) and Pittsburgh's Iván Nova (11-14, 4.14), will wait a day and start Friday's game instead. The move all but ensures that Tigers fifth starter Daniel Norris will make his season debut Tuesday against the Royals at Comerica Park.
Manager Clint Hurdle revealed the Pirates' Opening Day lineup on Tuesday, the Bucs' final day in Florida. Adam Frazier is expected to bat leadoff as the designated hitter. He will be followed by second baseman Josh Harrison, right fielder Gregory Polanco, first baseman Josh Bell, left fielder Corey Dickerson, center fielder Starling Marte, catcher Francisco Cervelli, third baseman Colin Moran and shortstop Jordy Mercer.