Rays' Archer named Opening Day starter

By process of elimination, right-hander Chris Archer will start Opening Day for the Tampa Bay Rays.

With Matt Moore, Alex Cobb, Alex Colome and Drew Smyly all set to miss the start of the season with injuries, manager Kevin Cash announced Archer will take the mound April 6 against the Baltimore Orioles.

"I'm excited for sure,'' Archer told Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. "Not excited that Cobb and Smyly and Colome are all three out. I know Cobb was ready to take the ball. This is just a temporary thing.''

The 26-year-old posted a 10-9 record and 3.33 ERA in 32 starts last season and owns a 1.93 ERA and 11 strikeouts through 14 innings this spring.