Opening Day with the Gambler?

Jim Leyland wouldn’t officially name his Opening Day starter on Monday, but he called Kenny Rogers "the likely candidate" for the start. It would be Rogers’ fourth opening assignment, the last one coming in 2004 with the Rangers. It would also push back Jeremy Bonderman, who started last year’s opener for the Tigers.

You can look at it in a few ways. First, he can giving credit to seniority with Rogers, who’s 18 years older than Bonderman. Second, starting a left-hander on Opening Day is the only way he can avoid starting three lefties in a row. That wouldn’t be a big problem in the first week since the Tigers play just two in KC before going to Texas, but it would be an issue later. Last but not least, starting Rogers for Opening Day would allow Bonderman to start the home opener if Leyland keeps to his plan and doesn’t skip the fifth starter.

But hey, at this point last year, Jason Johnson was supposed to be that Opening Day starter. Take this nugget for what it’s worth.