JUPITER, Fla. -- Nonchalantly, Washington manager Dave Martinez made official on Monday what most already assumed -- ace Max Scherzer will be the first to get the ball for the Nationals.
"I'm going to go out on a limb today and tell you that Max will be our opening day starter. How's that?" Martinez said.
That sets up a marquee matchup March 28 at Nationals Park: Scherzer vs. Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets.
Between them, Scherzer and deGrom own four Cy Young awards, including the three most recent in the National League.