Tigers-White Sox Opening Day starting pitchers: Skubal vs. Crochet
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The last time the Tigers and White Sox opened the season against each other, Chicago was coming off an AL Central title and aiming at taking the next step. Detroit, coming off a strong finish in A.J. Hinch¡¯s first season as manager, had just signed Eduardo Rodriguez and Javier B¨¢ez to try to take the next step.
That was two years ago, and neither plan worked out. Now, they meet again on March 28 at Guaranteed Rate Field under two vastly different circumstances. While the Tigers hope the late-season momentum they rode last year is real, this time based around a core of homegrown young talent, the White Sox embark on a new era under new general manager Chris Getz.
Neither starting pitcher from that 2022 opener -- Lucas Giolito for the White Sox, Rodriguez for the Tigers -- is with the club. Just three players from each lineup that day remain: Eloy Jim¨¦nez, Luis Robert and Andrew Vaughn for Chicago; B¨¢ez, Spencer Torkelson and Akil Baddoo for Detroit. Torkelson, who made his MLB debut that day, is now part of the Tigers¡¯ core, along with Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter, who debuted later that year.
Tigers: LHP Tarik Skubal
Previous Opening Day starts: None
2023 season: 7-3, 2.80 ERA, 102 strikeouts in 80 1/3 innings
Skubal will be the Tigers¡¯ first homegrown Opening Day starter since Justin Verlander in 2017 -- also at the White Sox. It¡¯s an assignment that not only establishes the 2018 ninth-round Draft pick as the face of Detroit¡¯s homegrown pitching rebuild -- part a group that includes first-round picks Casey Mize, Matt Manning and Alex Faedo -- but it recognizes Skubal¡¯s rise as one of the American League¡¯s up-and-coming starters.
After missing nearly a year recovering from flexor tendon surgery, the big lefty returned with a vengeance last July, allowing no earned runs in four of his first six outings. After getting his endurance back, he finished the season with a dominant September to earn AL Pitcher of the Month honors. Over his final four starts, Skubal allowed one run in 23 innings with two walks and 36 strikeouts. His changeup, once the missing piece in his power-centric arsenal, became one of the nastiest offspeed offerings in baseball, with a 50.6% whiff rate, according to Statcast.
¡°He¡¯s really talented,¡± Hinch said. ¡°His preparation is incredible, and I¡¯ve seen it grow from good to great. His intensity, his presence, how he interacts with his teammates ¡ everything about his last 12 months has earned him the opportunity to be the first one out of the gate.¡±
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White Sox: LHP Garrett Crochet
Previous Opening Day starts: None
2023 season: 0-2, 3.55 ERA, 13 G, 0 GS, 12 2/3 IP, 12 K, 13 BB
There was a time when the White Sox Opening Day starter was a clear decision for Pedro Grifol. In fact, the White Sox manager announced Dylan Cease for his second straight Day 1 nod at an offseason event in Chicago in late January. But Cease was traded on March 13 for a return of four players, meaning the next man up was Crochet, an interesting but inspired decision by the team.
Crochet, 24, had a talk with Getz early on during the offseason and expressed a desire to move from the bullpen to the starting rotation. It¡¯s an idea he expressed to the media at the end of the ¡¯23 campaign, adding he didn¡¯t want to regret not ever making a solid attempt at hitting this goal. The southpaw worked diligently during the offseason to prepare for this opportunity and has been as dominant as any Cactus League starter this spring -- 12 strikeouts, no walks and seven hits allowed in nine scoreless innings.
He also has hit 98-100 mph consistently with his fastball. Crochet hasn¡¯t held this role since making 13 starts in 36 total appearances over three seasons at the University of Tennessee and has pitched a total of 73 innings over three seasons as a White Sox reliever, so his workload will be monitored. But Crochet has a steely focus to go with the electric stuff needed to make this change a success. It begins against the Tigers.