LAKELAND, Fla. -- The battle between Francisco Liriano and Daniel Norris for a spot in the Detroit Tigers rotation is over, if it ever existed at all.
Shortly after both left-handers pitched on Sunday afternoon, manager Ron Gardenhire said that Liriano would be part of the Tigers' rotation to start the season.
Where that leaves Norris is less clear. Gardenhire said the youngster was still competing for a spot in the rotation, but there is currently no plausible avenue for him to get there.
Gardenhire acknowledged that Michael Fulmer was also a lock to win a job, which would mean Jordan Zimmermann, Mike Fiers, Matthew Boyd and Norris are ostensibly fighting for the remaining three spots.