March 01--It came as no surprise Tuesday morning as manager Joe Maddon named Jake Arrieta as the Chicago Cubs opening night starter April 4 against the Los Angeles Angels.
Arrieta, the 2015 National League Cy Young Award winner, will make his second opening day start. Arrieta pitched seven innings of two-hit ball in leading the Baltimore Orioles to a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Twins in the 2012 opener.
Arrieta, 29, posted a 22-6 record and 1.77 ERA in 33 starts in leading the Cubs to the National League playoffs. Arrieta is likely to face 15-game winner Garrett Richards.
"He's very excited about it," Maddon said. "He's earned that right to be named that particular opening day starter. If you're a starting pitcher, it really carries a lot of prestige along with it. He's earned it. We're very pleased to be able to announce it."
Maddon added that Jon Lester and John Lackey are likely to be the next two starters, although he needed to consult with pitching coach Chris Bosio before making an official decision.
Arrieta wasn't available for comment after the Cubs' brisk workout, but Lester expressed his excitment for his teammate.
"It's awesome," said Lester, who pitched the Cubs' 2015 opener. "It's a cool deal. It's something that not a lot of people get to do, especially for organizations like this. It will be a cool day."
Lester wasn't picky over whether he will start the second or third game.
"I just want to pitch," Lester said. "I don't care. I'm not picky at all. It doesn't matter to me. Just tell me when, and I'll be there and give everything I got. For me, whatever. I just like to pitch."
Arrieta will become the first pitcher to win a Cy Young Award and start on multiple opening days without making a All-Star team since Doug Drabek, who won the NL Cy Young award in 1990, made four consecutive opening day starts (1990-93) but wasn't named to an All-Star team until 1994 with Houston.
