For the second consecutive season, José Ureña will get the start on Opening Day.
Marlins manager Don Mattingly didn’t wait long to make his decision, naming the 27-year-old right-hander as their No. 1 starter just two days into spring training.
“I think he’s the leader of our staff,” Mattingly said. “If we have a guy that we want to bring along and ‘This is how you go about your business’ — this is José . He’s continuing to work and trying to get better all the time. Just the toughness, he approaches each outing with. He’s our guy.”
Ureña is entering his fifth season with the Marlins. Last year, he posted a 3.98 ERA in a team-high 31 starts. After a rocky three-quarters of the season, Ureña was one of the National League’s top pitchers in the final month. In five September starts, the 27-year-old went 5-0 with a 1.20 ERA.
“It means a lot when the team has that faith [in you],” Ureña said.
With Ureña getting the call on Opening Day at home against the Rockies, that means his showdown against the Braves will be postponed. Last season, the right-hander was suspended six games after hitting Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuna with the first pitch of the game on Aug. 15, setting off a benches-clearing skirmish.
The Marlins are scheduled to play a three-game set in Atlanta on April 5-7. However, with Ureña taking the No. 1 spot in the rotation starting with the March 28 opener, the Marlins 3-5 pitchers will throw that weekend.
The Marlins are revamping their roster, and they are counting on Urena and Straily to front a youthful starting staff.
"It's going to be a little bit crazy on Opening Day, different routines," Mattingly said. "I think Dan is a little more routine-oriented than Jose. I think it will be more of a normal day the second day. Jose, with the craziness, I don't mind him being a little jacked up, trying to throw 105[mph], instead of 100."
