Tigers look forward to experience in Omaha

KANSAS CITY -- It's going to be a whirlwind Thursday for the Tigers as they step off the standard Major League Baseball path and make their way to Omaha for the first regular season game played in Nebraska.

Detroit will finish a three-game series against the Royals at T.D. Ameritrade Park as a prelude to the College World Series, which commences on Saturday. While both clubs are embracing the opportunity to mingle with the players and coaches of the eight teams which have advanced to collegiate baseball's biggest stage, there are logistical issues to work through.

The Tigers will leave their Kansas City hotel on Thursday morning, but starting pitcher Matthew Boyd will already be in Omaha. Boyd drove on ahead on Wednesday, making the trip of three-plus hours by car so he wouldn't have to fly on game day. The bulk of the traveling party will head from the plane directly to the downtown stadium and there are plans for both MLB clubs to interact with all eight CWS teams on the field between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. CT.

• FAQ about game in Omaha

Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire and some of his players will be involved in a late afternoon press conference and the club will head right back to its plane after the game. They are scheduled to land back in Detroit around 3:30 a.m. local time. Left-hander Ryan Carpenter, who is scheduled to start against the Indians on Friday, will be sent home early so that he can get a good night's sleep before making that appearance.

Even with all the changes to a normal MLB travel itinerary, the Tigers are excited to be part of an event in which professional baseball and amateur baseball come together to simultaneously celebrate the sport.

"It's going to be a pretty cool experience," said Gardenhire, who played in the 1979 College World Series for Texas. "Everything is good about it except the travel. That makes for a little bit of a struggle, but it's still a wonderful event."

After taking in the Major League game on Thursday, the eight CWS teams will have a workout day on Friday before the tournament begins on Saturday. By then, the Tigers and Royals will be back in the rhythm of a long season.

But the meet-and-greet on Thursday and the opportunity to play a regular season game in front of the eight CWS participants will no doubt create some lasting memories.

"I can't wait to be back there," said Tigers infielder Brandon Dixon, who played for Arizona when the Wildcats won the College World Series in 2012. "At the college level, to play in an atmosphere like that, it's a blast."

Worth noting

• Shortstop Niko Goodrum, who left Tuesday's game after suffering a right knee contusion, was not in the lineup on Wednesday. "He's sore," Gardenhire said. "There's still a little swelling in there. He's moving around the best he can."

• The Tigers are summoning outfielder Victor Reyes from Triple-A Toledo as their 26th man for Thursday's game in Omaha.

• Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann (right elbow UCL sprain) is scheduled to make a rehab start for Toledo on Thursday.

• Infielder Jeimer Candelario (left shoulder inflammation) began a rehab assignment on Wednesday night by going 1-for-4 with an RBI as the designated hitter for Toledo.