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Phillies name Hellickson as Opening Day starter

Noah K. Murray / USA TODAY Sports

Jeremy Hellickson will kick off the regular season on the mound for his second consecutive Opening Day with the Philadelphia Phillies, as the club has tabbed the right-hander to start against the Cincinnati Reds, according to Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly.

While not exactly a surprising choice, the Phillies weren't short of potential candidates for the April 3 nod, including touted youngsters Aaron Nola and Vince Velasquez. Hellickson, though, is the Phillies' top starter on paper, and is expected to lead the rotation again for 2017. The 29-year-old crafted a 3.71 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in 32 starts last season with Philadelphia.

He signed a $17.2-million qualifying offer to return to Philadelphia in the offseason.

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