If anyone was wondering why Justin Verlander, who finally earned his first opening-day victory Monday in his sixth try, left the game after five innings and 91 pitches, ask manager Jim Leyland.

"It was his first start of the year and he's really not a quick out guy," Leyland said to the Detroit News, explaining that his pitch limit was "100 max" and his starter was close enough. "I just thought it was the right thing to do. You have to remember one thing: We've just come from where it was 80 degrees to where it's 30-something. Ninety-one pitches were enough. That was a no-brainer for me. I'm not going to do anything silly. He has more security than I do, but I make the decisions. He wanted to stay in, but that's what I get paid for."

Verlander was not happy about the Tigers skipper's decision, but realizes there will be plenty of other opportunities to go deep in games this year, as long as he stays healthy.

"I told Ricky [Porcello] when I came out, 'I don't know what to do.' It's kind of different," Verlander said. "If the weather hadn't been the way it was, I would have pitched more innings. I argued a little bit, but I understood."