This shouldn’t come as a surprise, as the Phillies arranged their rotation this spring with this very idea in mind, but the team announced this evening that Cole Hamels will start on Opening Day against the Braves on April 1.
This will be the first Opening Day assignment of Hamels’ career. As a result, Halladay’s streak of Opening Day starts will end at 10. Halladay, who has started the last three openers for the Phillies, endorsed Hamels for the honor earlier this spring by saying that this is his time to lead the staff.
Hamels, 29, posted a 3.05 ERA and 216/52 K/BB ratio over 215 1/3 innings last season. The southpaw is entering the first year of a six-year, $144 million contract.