Mariners' Ariel Miranda: Starting Cactus League opener

Miranda, who is being treated as a starter this spring, will operate as such in Saturday's Cactus League opener against the Mariners, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Analysis:

The 27-year-old southpaw isn't scheduled to be a part of the season-opening rotation come April, but is being groomed to be the first man up in the event of an injury or demotion. In the interim, Miranda will get an early opportunity to make a good impression and begin building on a 10-start major league debut in 2016 that saw him generate a solid 5-2 record, 3.88 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 44:18 K:BB over 58 innings.