LAKELAND, Fla. — It depends on when Justin Verlander is ready to pitch, but the fifth game of the season for the Detroit Tigers might end up featuring a matchup of Cy Young Award winners. The rotation for the Tigers depends upon the status of Verlander, who is dealing with a right triceps muscle issue that he developed Friday during his most recent start. But the first two teams the Tigers face this season appear to have their rotations set.
Which starting pitchers will the Tigers face when they play the Minnesota Twins and the Cleveland Indians next week? Here is how the pitchers for those teams line up right now (with their 2014 numbers in parentheses):
Detroit Tigers vs. Minnesota Twins
• April 6: RHP Phil Hughes (16-10, 3.52 ERA, 1.13 WHIP)
• April 8: RHP Ervin Santana (14-10, 3.95 ERA, 1.31 WHIP)
• April 9: RHP Ricky Nolasco (6-12, 5.38 ERA, 1.52 WHIP)
Detroit Tigers at Cleveland Indians
• April 10: RHP Zach McAllister (4-7, 5.23 ERA, 1.65 WHIP)
• April 11: RHP Corey Kluber (18-9, 2.44 ERA, 1.09 WHIP)
• April 12: LHP T.J. House (5-3, 3.35 ERA, 1.32 WHIP)