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Steve Davis: O's Opening Day Starter

Opening Day is a week away. There was some speculation over the weekend with the media covering the team in Florida that Ubaldo Jimenez might unseat Chris Tillman as the Opening Day starter, but when then came Jimenez's disastrous two-thirds of an inning start Sunday night.

So, Monday morning, Buck announced Tillman, for the third straight year, as the Opening Day starter. No offense to Tillman, but it is kind of by default.  I mean, who else is going to get it?  Your highest paid pitcher, Ubaldo Jimenez?  His ERA is 12.3. He hasn't even lasted one inning in 2 of his starts. Yovani Gallardo, your big off-season acquisition?  His ERA is 16.6, the highest of any pitcher on the team.  Miguel Gonzales?  Nope, ERA of 12.6.  Kevin Gausman? He has the best stats of any of the starters, with a 4.5 ERA, but he only has 2 appearances because he's been hurt. He he will start the year on the disabled list. So, there you go, the Opening Day starter is Chris Tillman, who has an ERA of 9.30 and has given up 3 home runs in 9 2/3 innings.

Speaking of home runs, you might have to hope that Orioles vaunted line-up loaded with maybe as many as 8 twenty home run hitters might need to start belting a lot of them until the rotation gets its act together.

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