Nolasco To Be Marlins' Opening Day Starter
JUPITER (CBSMiami) – After a tumultuous offseason featuring a fire-sale of talent, the Miami Marlins are making plans for opening day 2013 and settled on the first pitcher out of the gates for the Fish.
Marlins manager Mike Redmond announced Thursday starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco will be the first Marlins pitcher of the season in 2013. It's not Noalsco's first opening day outing as he started for the then-Florida Marlins on opening day 2009.
Nolasco has had four straight seasons with an ERA of at least 4.48 and until prospect Jose Fernandez rounds out his game into the number one starter and is brought up to the Majors, Nolasco is the Marlins' highest paid and most-veteran pitcher.
Last year, Nolasco was number three in the starting rotation behind Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle. Both Johnson and Buehrle were traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in the offseason.
Miami opens the 2013 season against the Washington Nationals who will likely start ace Stephen Strasburg.
