With Zack Wheeler opening the season in the rotation for Triple-A Las Vegas, Seth Lugo will be in the big league rotation, reports Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. That means Jason Vargas (perhaps missing just a rotation turn or two after surgery on his non-throwing hand) beginning the year on the DL.
The expectation last week was that Wheeler would be in the rotation along with Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz, and Matt Harvey. But Wheeler pitched himself out of consideration.
Meanwhile, Lugo -- who was being prepared for a relief role -- is the beneficiary.