SARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Right-hander Jake Arrieta will start the season opener for the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards against the Minnesota Twins on Friday.

Arrieta and Tommy Hunter were the leading candidates to top the starting rotation. It will be Arrieta’s first opening day start.

Manager Buck Showalter made the announcement Monday.

Arrieta went 10-8 with a 5.05 ERA last season before going on the disabled list in August for season-ending surgery on his right elbow.

The right-hander was 1-0 with a 6.14 ERA in four games this spring. He allowed 11 runs, 10 earned, and 17 hits in 14 2/3
innings. He walked four and struck out 12.

Arrieta, 26, has a career record of 16-14 in two years with Baltimore. He has pitched in 40 games, all of them starts.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)