Blue Jays name Happ as Opening Day starter
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons has named left-hander J.A. Happ the starter for the team's Opening Day game against the New York Yankees on March 29.
It will be the first Opening Day start of the 35-year-old's career.
Happ appeared in 25 games for the Blue Jays last season, posting a 10-11 record with a 3.53 ERA across 145 1/3 innings.
The veteran won 20 games for Toronto in 2016, finishing sixth in American League Cy Young voting.
Blue Jays ace Marcus Stroman likely would have gotten the nod if he hadn't experienced shoulder inflammation during spring. He'll start Game 4 of the opening series on April 1, following Happ, Aaron Sanchez, and Marco Estrada.
Gibby has named our 2018 starting rotation!
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 20, 2018
Game 1: J.A. Happ
Game 2: @A_Sanch41
Game 3: Marco Estrada
Game 4: @MStrooo6
Game 5: Jaime García pic.twitter.com/5RHktLwH4K