BRADENTON, Fla. -- Like most everyone else, Francisco Liriano thought he knew who the Pirates' Opening Day starter would be. Dubbed by manager Clint Hurdle last year as the club's "must-win" starter, Gerrit Cole seemed like the logical pick.
So Friday's announcement came as a bit of a surprise to Liriano. Hurdle approached the veteran left-hander before the Pirates' game vs. the Rays at McKechnie Field and informed him he'd be making his third straight Opening Day start for the Pirates.
"Even though he's a little behind schedule, I thought [Cole] was going to pitch," Liriano said Saturday morning.