Detroit Tigers 8 Observations From 4-1 Win Against Boston Red Sox

The slugger's status for the last two games of the series in Detroit is questionable.

Monday afternoon's pitchers' duel between Red Sox lefty ace Chris Sale and the Tigers' longtime marquee arm Justin Verlander was everything you'd expect: Fast, low scoring, and came down to a dink and a dunk.

"I don't work around anybody", Sale said after the game.

The Red Sox were without all three, and whether it was the depleted lineup or Verlander's dominance, the offense never got anything going.

Zimmermann (1-0), whose 2016 season was hampered by groin and neck injuries, limited the Red Sox to one run on four hits in his longest outing since June 30. Zimmermann struck out three and walked one.

Matt Barnes (1-0) got the win in relief.

Zimmermann appeared to get stronger during his last three innings, retiring nine of the last 10 batters he faced.

"I got ahead of him 0-2, and then just threw an extremely bad pitch over the plate", Rodriguez said. The ball just felt chalky in my hand.

Once Verlander got the curveball going, he racked up a few more punchouts.

"Well, I mean, the problem is pitchers aren't going to be ideal", Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said.

REDS 7, PIRATES 1: Eugenio Suarez and Scooter Gennett hit solo home runs and the Cincinnati Reds pounced on a wild night by the Pirates' Tyler Glasnow at Pittsburgh. Moreland scored when Brock Holt hit into a bases-loaded double play. Justin Wilson notched the second save of his career with a 1-2-3 ninth that included two strikeouts.

YANKEES 8, RAYS 1: Michael Pineda retired his first 20 batters before Evan Longoria lined a double down the left-field line, and he wound up pitching two-hit ball over 7⅔ innings in New York's home opener.

Boston Red Sox third base coach Brian Butterfield greets outfielder Mookie Betts after the team's 7-5 win over the Detroit Tigers in a baseball game, Sunday, April 9, 2017, in Detroit.

DENVER (AP) - Kyle Freeland allowed one run in six solid innings in his major league debut, leading hometown Colorado past Los Angeles. But most impressive was the fastball that he could elevate against some quality hitters for some swing and miss. It actually could have been worse, too, as Holt muffed the cutoff throw and blew a chance to get Kinsler at third to end the inning. He is expected to play Sunday.

On the roster front, Jackie Bradley Jr. will be sent to the disabled list with a sprained knee suffered over the weekend. There will be "a progression similar to spring training", manager John Farrell said, before Price can return to the roster. "I knew what was at stake and the crowd was there, the energy was there and you know it was just a fun, I kind of soaked it in a little bit, it was a fun at bat and I was able to come through".

But that was all Boston could muster off Verlander.

He is serving as the Tigers' super utilityman and will start against select right-handers in centerfield.