LAKELAND, Fla. — Eduardo Rodriguez has always wanted to be an Opening Day starter.
Earlier in his career, he came so close.
Twice.
The Detroit Tigers officially named the left-hander the Opening Day starter before the team's Grapefruit League opener Friday, in which the 28-year-old tossed three innings of one-run ball on three hits, no walks and three strikeouts. He signed a five-year, $77 million contract in November.