DETROIT -- With the losses of Max Scherzer to free agency and Rick Porcello to a trade in the offseason, there was some concern about the Tigers' starting rotation.
For now, that concern has quieted, thanks to three stellar performances by David Price, Anibal Sanchez and Shane Greene.
All three picked up wins as the Tigers (3-0) started the season with a three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins (0-3), the finale a 7-1 rain-delayed victory.
The Tigers had a winning record against every team in the AL Central last year except the Twins, who held a 10-9 edge.
"They kicked our (butt) last year so it's nice to return the favor, at least for three games," catcher Alex Avila said.
Greene was the latest Tiger to shut down the Twins after waiting out a three-hour and 36-minute rain delay for a 4:44 p.m. first pitch.
"I think there was a little nerves before the 1 o'clock start, but then by the time the game started I was good," Greene said.
The Twins finally scored a run in the seventh inning when Joe Mauer walked and Kennys Vargas doubled. But it was an unearned run as Mauer scored on left fielder Yoenis Cespedes' fielding error.
The Tigers established an American League record with 24 straight shutout innings to start the season, breaking the 1947 Chicago White Sox's record of 22 consecutive scoreless innings.
"It's impressive," Avila said. "But I don't know how to explain it. We pitched good. But it's not something I'm celebrating or anything like that. It's just a result."
It is the third longest streak in major league history.
The 1963 Cardinals had 32 straight scoreless innings and the 1943 Reds had 26 straight to start the season.
"I don't think we're going to go streaks of three games, giving up one run very often," Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. "But we'll take it."
The Tigers will also take the defense they've started the season with, Cespedes' error notwithstanding.
With a runner on first in the second inning, the Twins' Eduardo Escobar hit a ball that center fielder Anthony Gose ran a long way to corral.
"The most impressive thing that I saw him do was that ball that Escobar hit, I mean that ball was hit and I thought it was over his head for sure," right fielder J.D. Martinez said. "I'm already telling him, 'Four, four,' and all of a sudden he just reaches back and grabs that thing. I was like, wow."
You combine that with the return of Jose Iglesias to shortstop, forming a dynamic duo with second baseman Ian Kinsler, and the opposing hitters have a lot of work to do to get their hits.
"We've played good defense this series," Avila said. "This series has been about as good a series as you can play. The key is being able to do that on a consistent basis. We're not gonna do it every day but you want to try to do it as consistently as possible."
Ausmus likes it when the pitchers keep upping the ante for the next guy.
"I've been on many teams where pitchers kind of have a contest, trying to outdo each other," Ausmus said. "If it starts with David setting the bar, and the other guys trying to keep up, and they keep pace, we'll be in great shape."
Alfredo Simon gets his chance Friday in the Cleveland Indians' home opener.
"People say hitting's contagious but I think pitching is just as contagious," Greene said. "Hopefully it's a snowball effect and we keep it going."
