Detroit – It’s not that he’s heartless, not completely.
But Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire wasn’t about to apologize for giving rookie outfielder Christin Stewart his first big-league start against Justin Verlander.
“Why not?” Gardenhire said with a grin, indicating Stewart will be in the lineup Monday against the Astros and Verlander. “I made my debut in Houston and I had to face Nolan Ryan in my second game. If I can do that, he can do this.”
Believe this: After playing 160 games over two seasons at Double-A and another 122 games at Triple-A this year – hitting 57 home runs in the process – Stewart doesn’t care who he faces in his first Major-League start.