Not that it was a great mystery, but it’s now become official:
Your 2016 Opening Day starter: Cy Young Award winner @JArrieta34. https://t.co/Fh1htG17ri #LetsGo pic.twitter.com/rNUYtdQAcQ
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) March 1, 2016
Arrieta’s 2015 season was a parade of awesome so impressive that it netted him a Cy Young Award and a litany of second-half records. Arrieta, who turns 30 in a few days, posted a 1.77 ERA over 229.0 innings last year (still gives me chills seeing those numbers), and was worth 7.3 WAR. If ever there was a deserving Opening Day starter, it’s him.
The Cubs open up their season in Anaheim on April 4, so that means, although Arrieta will be on the mound, he won’t be in the batter’s box. Of course, given the Cubs’ options for DH in that game, I don’t think anyone will be complaining.