For the second straight season, barring something unforeseen in the Matrix, Carlos Martinez will once again be the Opening Day starter for the St. Louis Cardinals, this year on March 29 against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Though most had probably assumed this would be the case for the Birdos, manager Mike Matheny essentially confirmed the decision to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post Dispatch:
“He better to be assuming,” Matheny said. “I’d imagine it would be Carlos.”
Since becoming a full time starter for the Cardinals, Martinez has consistently been among the team’s top pitchers, coming in second in fWAR behind John Lackey in 2015, and leading the staff in 2016 and 2017.