Cleveland — OK, now you can call him a starter.
Tigers manager AJ Hinch has had a running bit with lefty Tyler Alexander ever since he put him into the starting rotation. Until he went five full innings, he wouldn’t call him a starter.
“He’s an opener,” Hinch said, chuckling. “I refuse to call him a starter if he only goes four innings.”
The kicker is, Hinch has steadfastly removed him after he’s gone through the opposing batting order twice. But, not to dicker.
Alexander breezed through five innings Saturday night, allowing just two singles and the Tigers evened the series with a heart-pounding 2-1 win over the Indians at Progressive Field.