George Sipple

Detroit Free Press

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus announced this morning that Michael Fulmer, the American League Rookie of the Year last season, will pitch the home opener at Comerica Park on April 7 against the Boston Red Sox.

“It’s not necessarily a reward,” Ausmus said. “He’s towards the back because we started him slower and he had an excellent year last year. Opening Day in Comerica Park, going back to Tiger Stadium, is like the Super Bowl. I’ve always said it should be a state holiday.”

Ausmus said he told Fulmer the news this morning.

“He was pretty stoic like he normally is,” Ausmus said.

Fulmer’s approach will probably help him in such a big situation.

“Opening Day is always a little more intense,” Ausmus said. “In Detroit it’s even more intense than most cities. But I don’t think that will affect him because of his makeup.”

Fulmer is on the cover the team media guide this season, along with other past rookie of the year winners: Havey Kuenn (1953), Mark Fidrych (1976), Lou Whitaker (1978) and Justin Verlander (2006).

Fulmer received 26 of 30 first-place votes (and received four second-place votes) for the award. He was 11-7 with a 3.06 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 159 innings over 26 starts. He ranked third in ERA for AL pitchers with at least 150 innings.

Fulmer’s strikeout total was the second highest for a rookie in team history. Only Les Cain, who struck out 156 batters in 1970, had more.

Fulmer allowed two earned runs or less in 10 straight starts, from May 21 to July 17. He was 7-1 with a 0.83 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 65.1 innings during that stretch. No other pitcher, according to Elias Sports Bureau, compiled an ERA that low over a span of 10 consecutive starts in the season of his major major debut since the major leagues began keeping track of earned runs over 100 years ago.

In addition to being named AL Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America, Fulmer was named AL Rookie of the Year by the Sporting News and the AL Outstanding Rookie in the Players Choice Award balloting. He also was named to Baseball America’s Major League All-Rookie Team.

Ausmus had previously said that Verlander will pitch the season opener, April 3 against the White Sox in Chicago. Ausmus hasn’t yet revealed who will pitch the other two games against the White Sox, April 5-6.

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