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Dan Haren is expected to start the Marlins' Grapefruit League opener Thursday, Tom D'Angelo of the Palm Beach Post reports.

Haren is expected to start the Marlins' Grapefruit League opener Thursday, Tom D'Angelo of the Palm Beach Post reports.

Analysis:

After an offseason of insistence on playing close to home on the west coast, Haren is honoring his contract and is expected to be a part of the Miami rotation. The key aspect to watch will be the 34-year-old's ability to use his four-seamer, sinker, and cutter to prevent hard contact, as he's allowed a 1.4 home runs per nine innings over the last three seasons. His velocity has also declined, so don't be surprised if he walks onto the mound with an 85-mph fastball.

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