A.L. West Opening Day starters
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Who will be starting for the A.L. West teams come Opening Day?
Houston Astros
The Astros have officially announced that right-hander Scott Feldman will start April 1 against the Yankees at Minute Maid Park. The 31-year old has posted a 0-2 record in 3 starts in spring training. Manager Bo Porter praised Feldman during the announcement of his Opening Day start:
"“You look at his track record and the fact he’s a former 17-game winner and the fact that he gives us a great opportunity to win a ballgame each and every time he takes the mound. He’s a strike-thrower, he’s a competitor.”"
Feldman was signed to a three-year deal worth $30 million dollars in the offseason to help lead a very young rotation. RHP Jarred Cosart (23 years old) and LHP Brett Oberholtzer (23) will follow Feldman in the rotation.
Los Angeles Angels
Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Eight-year veteran right-hander Jered Weaver will likely get the nod from manager Mike Scioscia to start on March 31st against the Mariners. Weaver is 3-1 with a 3.74 ERA this spring with a WHIP of 1.129. Weaver has been the ace of the Angels since 2006 when he recorded a 11-2 record with a 2.56 ERA in 19 starts. He heads a rotation of LHP C.J. Wilson, LHP Hector Santiago, and RHP Garrett Richards.
Weaver’s career marks are 113-60, 3.24 ERA, and a 1.14 WHIP. He was a runner-up in the Cy Young Award voting in 2011.
Oakland Athletics
Twenty-three year old right-hander Sonny Gray will likely be starting Opening Day against the Indians on March 31. After an impressive rookie campaign in 2013, Gray has steadily improved as the spring as progressed. Barring an unforeseen event, Gray will have earned his spot at the top of the lineup. In 5 starts this spring, he’s 0-1 with a 4.02 ERA in 15.2 innings. Manager Bob Melvin shared his confidence in Gray following Gray’s start yesterday against the Giants:
"“He’s got the stuff to get out of those jams and the confidence, too. He had a really good two-seamer and changeup, so he’s adding to his repertoire and not afraid to work on it, and getting some results. That’s added confidence for a guy that’s basically four-seam fastball and curveball.”"
Gray still has improving to do, but so far the Athletics seem pleased with their young hurler.
Seattle Mariners
At 27 years of age, LHP Felix Hernandez will be making his seventh career Opening Day start when the Mariners face the Angels on March 31. The 2010 Cy Young Award winner has a career mark of 110-86 with a 3.20 ERA and 1703 strikeouts.
Hernandez is coming off a season where his offense failed to help him on a regular basis and he finished with a misleading 12-10 record, but his ERA was an excellent 3.04 ERA. In 2014, with an upgraded lineup (Cano, Ibanez, etc), Hernandez will hopefully get more help and maybe earn his first 20-win season.
Texas Rangers
Yu Darvish will start for the Rangers against the Phillies on March 31. The runner-up in Cy Young voting last season will be looking to follow up his remarkable 2013 campaign (13-9, 2.83 ERA, 277 SO). The Rangers will look to Darvish to help lead their team to yet another postseason. The Rangers dropped a wild card play-in game last season.
Darvish has established himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball. The 26-year old righty is entering his third year in the majors. The Rangers purchased his contract from the Nippon Ham Fighters of the Japan Pacific League in 2012.