Porcello gets Opening Day nod for Red Sox
If there was any doubt about who would start on Opening Day for the Boston Red Sox, manager John Farrell put that to rest Wednesday when he announced 2016 American League Cy Young winner Rick Porcello would take the hill April 3 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, reports Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal.
Porcello will pitch opposite Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole, according to Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Farrell said he told Porcello he'd get the start on the first day of camp.
It will be the first Opening Day start of the 28-year-old's career after he posted a career-high 22 wins last season, which included a 3.15 ERA across 223 innings.
The Red Sox rotation also includes Chris Sale and David Price, who have combined to make nine Opening Day starts.
Porcello is 31-19 since coming to the Red Sox, along with a 3.92 ERA in 61 starts.
The right-hander owns a 107-82 record during his eight-year career to go along with a 4.20 ERA across 245 appearances, 241 of which have been starts.