NEW YORK -- Tigers right-hander Jordan Zimmermann acknowledges the previous three years were tough. It didn't help that he had to deal with his share of injuries during that period. But this year appears to be a different story. Zimmermann is healthy, and it showed in his Opening Day start against the Blue Jays on Thursday.

Zimmermann pitched seven shutout innings and struck out four batters. He carried a perfect game for 6 2/3 innings until allowing an infield single to Teoscar Hernandez. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Zimmermann's perfect-game bid was the longest on Opening Day since April 16, 1940, when Boston's Lefty Grove threw seven perfect innings against the Senators.

"I had the curveball and slider working. I was able to mix in some fastballs," Zimmermann said on Monday before the Tigers opened a three-game series against the Yankees. "I don't have the mid-90s fastball anymore. I have to throw some more off-speed stuff. Everything was real good. When I have the curveball and slider working, it's usually a good day."

Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire sees a difference in Zimmermann compared to last year, when he had problems with his neck and core.

"The biggest thing is that he is healthy. ... He feels really good. The ball is coming out [of his hand really well]," Gardenhire said. "He doesn't have the same velocity that he had in his days with the Nationals. He is really locating that ball and he has learned to pitch a little bit more than being able to blow people away when he wanted to.

"[Zimmermann] has learned to add and subtract a little bit. You know what? I think he is having fun with it. His first outing was really good. Spring Training was great. Hopefully he will continue from there. He is locating like he always did. Now with a little less velocity, he can get where he wants it because he is healthy."

Zimmermann will pitch Tuesday evening at Yankee Stadium, and he hopes this season will be different. In six career starts against the Yankees, he is 3-1 with a 2.84 ERA.