There are few things that matter less over the course of a 162-game season than the Opening Day starter.
But it’s still a symbolic measure, the image of putting your best foot forward on the first day of the season, that matters to a lot of people.
The past few years, the Opening Day starter has gone on to have a bit of a disappointing season — last year’s Opening Day starter, Jhoulys Chacin, didn’t even make it through the season before getting designated for assignment.
As much as we joke about the Opening Day Curse and how Craig Counsell should just trot out someone like Brett Anderson or Alex Claudio to be the sacrificial lamb to appease the Opening Day gods, Brandon Woodruff still seems to be the odds-on favorite to take the ball first on March 26th, based on his breakout performance last season.