Article: Jake Odorizzi Named Opening Day Starter

[Cody Christie]

Opening Day is a big deal for fans and players. The anticipation of a new season reverberates throughout the stadium. Gates open early and there are plenty of festivities leading up to the year’s first pitch.

 

For the first time since 2015, Ervin Santana won’t be the first man on the mound for the Minnesota Twins. His offseason surgery will keep him on the sidelines for the season’s first 4-6 weeks. This opened an opportunity for a new pitcher to get the Opening Day honors.Twins manager Paul Molitor announced Jake Odorizzi as the Opening Day starter on Thursday.

It will be his first Opening Day start and he seems ready for the opportunity. “You always want to set the tone in Game 1 and put one in the win column,” he told the Pioneer Press. “If the team believes in you enough to give you that Opening Day start, I think that’s just a big vote of confidence of how they view you and what type of player they think you are.”

 

Odorizzi will be followed in the rotation by Kyle Gibson, Jose Berrios, and Lance Lynn. Phil Hughes will start the season in the bullpen but could be used as a fifth starter if he is needed. Gibson is lined up to start the Home Opener at Target Field. Berrios would then get the opportunity to start one of the team’s games in Puerto Rico, his homeland.

 

Here’s how the early weeks are schedule to play out:

 

March 29 @ BAL: Odorizzi

March 30: OFF

March 31 @ BAL: Gibson

April 1 @ BAL: Berrios

April 2 @ PIT: Lynn

April 3: OFF

April 4 @ PIT: Odorizzi

April 5 SEA: Gibson

April 6: OFF

April 7 SEA: Berrios

April 8 SEA: Lynn

April 9 HOU: Odorizzi

April 10 HOU: Gibson

April 11 HOU: Possibly Hughes

April 12 CHW: Berrios

April 13 CHW: Lynn

April 14 CHW: Odorizzi

April 15 CHW: Gibson

April 16: OFF

April 17 CLE (in Puerto Rico): Berrios

April 18 CLE (in Puerto Rico): Lynn

 

Since Target Field opened in 2010, the Twins will have used seven different Opening Day starters. Ervin Santana and Carl Pavano are the only two pitchers to make multiple starts during that stretch. Other Opening Day starters include Scott Baker (2010), Vance Worley (2013), Ricky Nolasco (2014) and Phil Hughes (2015). Brad Radke holds the team record for Opening Day starts (9) and consecutive Opening Day starts (7, 1999-2005).

 

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[Monkeypaws]

So if I'm interpreting the schedule correctly, Gibby gets the home opener?

[Cody Christie]

 

So if I'm interpreting the schedule correctly, Gibby gets the home opener?

Yes. I mentioned that in the article as well. 

[notoriousgod71]

This is good if they stick to the mostly four man rotation.

 

If Hughes ends up starting the fifth game of the season I am going to be upset.

[hugelycat]

First I was surprised Jose Berrios isn't starting Opening Day. Then I read this lines up Berrios to start in Puerto Rico on April 17th.

 

That's huge. MLB hasn't played a game in Puerto Rico since 2010. This might be Jose's only chance to play an MLB game in his home territory, and it's awesome the Twins look like they're accommodating that.

[70charger]

 

First I was surprised Jose Berrios isn't starting Opening Day. Then I read this lines up Berrios to start in Puerto Rico on April 17th.

 

That's huge. MLB hasn't played a game in Puerto Rico since 2010. This might be Jose's only chance to play an MLB game in his home territory, and it's awesome the Twins look like they're accommodating that.

 

That's how I interpreted this too. Glad they're doing it; it's probably quite a big deal to him.

[yarnivek1972]

Vance Worley was the Twins opening day starter in 2013. That decision and being put into a position to make that decision are why the house cleaning was so badly needed and why it was so clearly overdue. The Twins had 10 different guys start at least 8 games. One had an ERA under 4. Only 3 were under 5. It’s a miracle that team didn’t lose 120 games.

 

I probably would have gone with Berrios and hope he starts a streak. But that’s me. I don’t know if I love the idea of him pitching in Puerto Rico. He’s still young and emotional. I can see the situation getting the best of him.

[kab21]

What is the reasoning for off days in the middle of series?

I understand the first one since they do this all of the time on opening day but the others seem ridiculous.

[Han Joelo]

This is perfect.  Berrios gets the honor of being considered for the opening day nod, without the pressure and potential soul-crushing responsibility that goes with it.  A (hopefully) steady vet gets the nod instead.  Lynn opens the next road series.  Seems like a good way to prevent any major long losing streaks to start things off.

 

Really, the early schedule looks fairly winnable.  They could be like 11-3 when they get to Puerto Rico and Cleveland.  

[h2oface]

Since 2010, that is a pretty lame list of opening day starters. Hopefully, Berrios will settle in after the novelty Puerto Rico thing. With nerves in the homeland, I think it is the wrong decision, and would rather he had started the opener this year. Odorizzi... not too excited about. Personally, I hate having games at neutral stadiums, no matter where they are.

 

Do these two games count as one missed home game apiece? If so, which one is the home game for the Twins? Or is one team sacrificing 2 home games?

[Thegrin]

Gibson as #2 starter ? That surprised me the most.  

[yarnivek1972]

Since 2010, that is a pretty lame list of opening day starters. Hopefully, Berrios will settle in after the novelty Puerto Rico thing. With nerves in the homeland, I think it is the wrong decision, and would rather he had started the opener this year. Odorizzi... not too excited about. Personally, I hate having games at neutral stadiums, no matter where they are.

 

Do these two games count as one missed home game apiece? If so, which one is the home game for the Twins? Or is one team sacrificing 2 home games?

Both are Twins’ home games.

[Nine of twelve]

What is the reasoning for off days in the middle of series?

 

I understand the first one since they do this all of the time on opening day but the others seem ridiculous.

There is almost always a scheduled day off on the day following a home opener so the game can be rescheduled if necessary with no loss of ticket revenue.

[Nine of twelve]

Gibson as #2 starter ? That surprised me the most.  

Choosing Gibson to start the second game doesn't necessarily mean the team thinks he's the second best starter.

[Nine of twelve]

This will be the last time for about ten years that Berrios doesn't open the season.

[ScooterDance]

This will be the last time for about ten years that Berrios doesn't open the season.

 

Kershaw will get a few starting next year.

[Squirrel]

There is almost always a scheduled day off on the day following a home opener so the game can be rescheduled if necessary with no loss of ticket revenue.

Yeah, that I get, but why a day off BETWEEN the two games with Pittsburgh and why a day off in the middle of the series with Mariners?

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Gibson as #2 starter ? That surprised me the most.  

 

If by surprised, you mean terrified, then yes...

[Otto von Ballpark]

Yeah, that I get, but why a day off BETWEEN the two games with Pittsburgh and why a day off in the middle of the series with Mariners?

Those are both home openers too (for Pittsburgh and Minnesota, respectively).

[wabene]

Gibson as #2 starter ? That surprised me the most.  

Maybe they can give Lance a gold star so he doesn't feel bad being the fourth man up.

[kab21]

 

There is almost always a scheduled day off on the day following a home opener so the game can be rescheduled if necessary with no loss of ticket revenue.

I forgot about the home opener angle of that since it isn't the season opener. Thanks

[Brock Beauchamp]

It's disappointing that Gibson lines up for the home opener but only from a spectator standpoint. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter one bit.

[MN_ExPat]

If it's Evil, Wicked Witch of the West, 1st half Gibson for the home opener, then yes...

If it's Good Witch Glenda of the 2nd half Gibson, they should be fine

[Pardon My Dinger]

Nice. RZA at the top of the rotation and an old dirty bastard in the fifth spot!

[Lee-The-Twins-Fan]

It seems like we're almost wasting Lynn early on - he gets Pittsburgh, Seattle and Chicago before facing the Indians. I wish he were lined up against Houston – that's where they'll need him. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

It seems like we're almost wasting Lynn early on - he gets Pittsburgh, Seattle and Chicago before facing the Indians. I wish he were lined up against Houston – that's where they'll need him. 

Eh, it doesn't matter. One rainout changes everything.

 

Besides, if Lynn can wrap up two wins against bad-but-not-awful teams, I'll take it.

[spanman2]

 

Gibson as #2 starter ? That surprised me the most.  

Ditto.  I didn't see that either.  Perhaps it was done so Berrios can start game 1 in Puerto Rico?

[Mike Sixel]

People way overestimate the order, as having meaning. Other than trying to line up Berrios for Puerto Rico, it's random pretty much.

[jimbo92107]

Congratulations to Odoreater, may he never stink. Not that I'm bitter about being wrong that Berrios would be the first starter... 

 

Kidding. He may well be the best arm on the staff. Let the contest for that honor require winning 20 games. 

 

Skol Twins!

[70charger]

 

Congratulations to Odoreater, may he never stink. Not that I'm bitter about being wrong that Berrios would be the first starter... 

 

Kidding. He may well be the best arm on the staff. Let the contest for that honor require winning 20 games. 

 

Skol Twins!

 

I was pulling for Berrios for opening starter too, but I had forgotten about Puerto Rico. I'd imagine that's more important to him this year, and Berrios can have opening day next year once he has an awesome 2018.