LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Tigers have a decision to make with Victor Martinez before Opening Day. Mercifully, it has nothing to do with the disabled list. It has everything to do with first base.
The Tigers open and close their regular season in National League cities, turning what would normally be midseason opportunities for resting players into potential lineup manipulations with no designated hitter. With Opening Day at the Marlins three weeks away, manager Brad Ausmus will explore the idea of playing Miguel Cabrera at third base and Martinez at first during part of that two-game set.