They waited a good, long while, but finally the Padres finally let us know who their Opening Day starting pitcher is going to be.
For a while it looked like it could be rookie Chris Paddack. Then it seemed almost a lock it would be 2nd-year lefty Joey Lucchesi.
So it's a mild surprise that the Padres are going with another left-hander. Eric Lauer is going to get his first Opening Day nod, which is a big deal for him because he's never even been on an Opening Day roster.
Lauer was called up about a month into last season. He's just 23 years old, making Lauer the 2nd-youngest Opening Day starter in Padres history behind Clay Kirby, who got the nod in 1972. It's hard to argue with the numbers the southpaw put up.
Lauer only allowed 2 hits and no runs in three Cactus League appearances but also impressed the club with his back-field appearances. Manager Andy Green said Lucchesi will start game two but after that, the Padres did not commit to anything.
It's likely that Paddack and another lefty, Matt Strahm, have earned spots in the rotation. The 5th starter job is still to be determined with a pair of exhibition games left this week in Seattle.
